Education, Training and Development Adult Learning

Lead Group Discussions Training

SAQA US 119519 | NQF 3 | Credits 6 | Duration 3 Days
From $967 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the skills to lead group discussions effectively, ensuring inclusive participation and productive outcomes. Participants will learn to facilitate dialogue, manage group dynamics, and guide discussions toward consensus or decision-making in a professional setting.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply techniques to prepare and structure group discussions for specific objectives.
  • Demonstrate facilitation skills to encourage participation and manage group dynamics.
  • Evaluate group discussions to assess achievement of outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
  • Analyse different communication styles and adapt facilitation approaches accordingly.
  • Implement strategies to handle conflict and maintain focus during discussions.
  • Design discussion frameworks that promote inclusive and respectful dialogue.

Target Audience

This course is designed for supervisors, team leaders, managers, and anyone responsible for facilitating group discussions or meetings within their organisation.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Group Discussion Facilitation

Objectives:
• Understand the role and responsibilities of a group discussion leader.
• Identify different types of group discussions and their purposes.
• Recognise the characteristics of effective group dynamics.
• Learn techniques for setting ground rules and creating a safe environment.
• Develop skills to manage diverse participant personalities.

Topics:
• Introduction to group discussion leadership and unit standard requirements.
• Types of group discussions: problem-solving, decision-making, brainstorming, and information-sharing.
• Group dynamics: stages of group development (forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning).
• Establishing a positive climate: ground rules, inclusivity, and confidentiality.
• Understanding communication styles and their impact on group interaction.
• Identifying and addressing common barriers to effective discussion.
• Role of the leader: facilitator vs. director.
• Practical exercise: setting up a discussion group and establishing norms.

Day 2: Techniques for Engaging and Managing Group Discussions

Objectives:
• Apply questioning techniques to stimulate critical thinking and participation.
• Use active listening and paraphrasing to clarify and validate contributions.
• Manage challenging behaviours and keep discussions on track.
• Utilise visual aids and digital tools to enhance engagement.
• Practice summarising and synthesising group input effectively.

Topics:
• Questioning strategies: open-ended, probing, reflective, and redirecting questions.
• Active listening skills: attending, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Handling difficult participants: talkative, quiet, negative, and off-topic members.
• Time management and agenda adherence during discussions.
• Using flip charts, whiteboards, and online collaboration tools.
• Techniques for encouraging participation from all members.
• Conflict resolution within group settings.
• Role-play exercises: facilitating a discussion with challenging scenarios.

Day 3: Advanced Facilitation and Practical Integration

Objectives:
• Synthesise learning from Days 1 and 2 to facilitate a full group discussion.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of a discussion using feedback criteria.
• Develop a personal action plan for continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate competence in leading a group discussion to achieve set outcomes.
• Reflect on ethical considerations and cultural sensitivity in group settings.

Topics:
• Planning a structured discussion: setting clear objectives and desired outcomes.
• Facilitation styles: adaptive leadership to suit group needs.
• Giving and receiving constructive feedback on facilitation skills.
• Ethical considerations: neutrality, confidentiality, and respect for diversity.
• Cultural sensitivity: adapting facilitation for multicultural groups.
• Assessing group discussion effectiveness: criteria and self-evaluation.
• Practical assessment: each participant leads a 15-minute group discussion.
• Debrief and personal development plan for ongoing growth.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Wed 09 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Wed 30 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Tue 20 Oct 2026 Thu 22 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Wed 09 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Wed 13 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Tue 16 Feb 2027 Thu 18 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Wed 03 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Wed 10 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Thu 18 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Wed 09 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Wed 30 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Tue 20 Jul 2027 Thu 22 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Wed 08 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Wed 29 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Tue 19 Oct 2027 Thu 21 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Wed 08 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Wed 29 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Tue 18 Jan 2028 Thu 20 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 533 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 22 Jun 2026 Wed 24 Jun 2026 Mombasa, Kenya Winter 2026 $3,148 Register
Mon 22 Jun 2026 Wed 24 Jun 2026 Maseru, Lesotho Winter 2026 $2,230 Register
Tue 23 Jun 2026 Thu 25 Jun 2026 Nairobi, Kenya Winter 2026 $3,148 Register
Tue 23 Jun 2026 Thu 25 Jun 2026 Windhoek, Namibia Winter 2026 $2,392 Register
Wed 24 Jun 2026 Fri 26 Jun 2026 Mbabane, Eswatini Winter 2026 $2,230 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Wed 24 Jun 2026 Fri 26 Jun 2026 Your Premises Winter 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 15 Sep 2026 Thu 17 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Wed 07 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 28 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 15 Dec 2026 Thu 17 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Wed 20 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 24 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 09 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 24 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 15 Jun 2027 Thu 17 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Wed 07 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 28 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 14 Sep 2027 Thu 16 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Wed 06 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 27 Oct 2027 Fri 29 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Thu 16 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Wed 05 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 26 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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