The benefits of using a facilitator

Experience

You will benefit from my experience as a professional strategy facilitator having delivered many workshops for different organisations of all types and sizes.  I will bring relevant observations and learnings from these organisations. This kind of experience helps me to think fast on my feet and can provide reassurance for teams by making them realise they are not alone with a challenge or problem.

Independence

I will have an objective view.  Internal facilitators are often too close to everything and sometimes can’t see things objectively.  An external person can see things as they are, can ask stupid questions and are unencumbered by biased thinking.  With independence comes the ability to reconcile alternative viewpoints among team members and keep things on track.

Pre-workshop insight

The workshop itself is only the tip of the iceberg. A significant part of my work is done in the preparation days leading up to the workshop: I carry out research on the organisation and the environment around it to make sure I am informed; I design the materials for the session; I do dry runs of every session to ensure they work smoothly and I make sure any pre-work is documented and ready for the session. Does your internal facilitator have the time to commit to this?

Structured agendas

No two strategy day agendas are the same. I can use my experience to design an agenda specifically for the job in hand. Optimising the agenda will ensure you achieve your business outcomes and objectives for the sessions.  I will also prepare and test the session timings to ensure a fast pace during the workshop. 

Experienced strategist

I am an expert in strategy and planning disciplines.  I can bring new thinking, ideas and best-practice strategy frameworks to help guide your team and stimulate ideas.  I always use visual tools to make sessions engaging and fun.

Allows your team to focus

I will ensure that every member of your team can fully engage in the process and the discussions rather than focusing on documenting stuff - this is a waste of brainpower. I will provide reports from the sessions without anyone having to take notes.

Manage people and personalities

Making sure dynamics work in a strategy session can be difficult.  Keeping things on track, dealing with issues and managing conflict is central to getting the best out of a team.  This can be very difficult for internal facilitators who have existing relationships with people in the room.

I want actions. You want actions

Part of my ethos is to ensure every workshop ends with an action plan along with a framework to track and monitor. I will provide a summary of the discussions and outcomes of each session and the agreed next steps.  This means no decisions get lost and you can implement your plans immediately.

I love people and I love business

I love working with great businesses, whatever shape or size.  I love working with teams, drawing out ideas from people and helping them uncover ideas.  This is why I do what I do.

Other advantages

The benefit of an energetic and highly capable facilitator can often deliver benefits to the team that live on after the session.  A great strategy workshop brings people together.  It increases the energy and enthusiasm in a team.  This helps to maintain the momentum to then implement and action the strategic ideas.