At its core, facilitation is essentially about coordinating a conversation. It’s a process of ensuring that all perspectives are teased out with the goal of reaching consensus.
For me it’s all about purpose, people and process. Depending on the task at hand, my process may involve:
Step 1: Preparation
- Shared expectations – an advance meeting to understand your issues/aspirations
- Insights – individual interviews with participants (if required)
- Planning – careful consideration of how best to approach the facilitation assignment and craft the session agenda
Step 2: Execution
- Setting the scene – creating a safe and inclusive environment for all participants
- Ground rules – collectively understanding how we will conduct ourselves
- Session – ensuring participants are focused on the session purpose; ensuring everyone has opportunity for input; ensuring clarity of communication; capturing all perspectives; reaching consensus.
- Session close-out – all participants understand the next steps and their respective roles.
Step 3: Follow-up
- Photographs (to serve as a visual reminder of content collected on the day) sent to client
- Check in with action owners to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities and timeframes
- Written reports provided
- Book any follow-up meetings or sessions that might be needed.
o2 Advisory facilitation services:
- Workshops
- Strategic planning
- One-on-one conflict resolution
- Focus groups
- Meetings
- Stakeholder engagement
- Problem-solving
