Services

I provide facilitation services that enable groups to work collaboratively & effectively. I work mostly in business and other formal organisations but also with a variety of other groups and communities.

So — what is facilitation?

One basic definition of facilitation is to make easy. In terms of group facilitation, it is the Facilitators role to design, conduct and manage a healthy group process making it easier for the group to accomplish its purpose.

Here’s a quote that I think sums it up pretty well …

Facilitation is an art of creating space for groups to naturally share their innate wisdom. — Steve Davis, FacilitatorU.com

Facilitation is used in a range of situations to enable teams or groups to create dialogue, learn, collaborate and develop mutually beneficial outcomes. These include, but are not limited to:

• vision, mission definition meetings
• strategy and planning sessions
• conferences and conference workshops
• focus groups
• annual retreats
• acquisition, merger, or other restructures
• department or team meetings
• team building
• user group meetings (software & other)

How do i facilitate?

I’m a skilled facilitator, adept at working with difficult issues and powerful personalities. I work at the service of the group enabling them to work collaboratively and effectively.

I’m very wary about talking in abstractions here — that might leave you rolling your eyes. I could talk about capacity building, empowerment, team building and so on, but I’m not a big fan of buzz words or warm and fuzzies either, so I wont.

You care about making a profit, providing a service, creating a product, winning a customer, gaining market share etc. I understand that. I do too. I deal with real issues - no matter how the nature of that issue is defined. I try and balance the need for dialogue with the quest for decisions.

I use a number of process tools and techniques as a facilitator in a group. For example, I use Open Space Technology — a simple way to run productive meetings, for five to 2000+ people, and a powerful way to lead any kind of organization, in everyday practice and ongoing change.

The tool that I choose depends on the job at hand and the group’s stage of development. I am a firm believer in keeping it simple and working with the fundamentals.

The art and practice of professional facilitation is something I take seriously. I am constantly learning about group behaviors, theories of group interactions and group processes and continue to undertake professional development opportunities.

I believe in the importance of facilitation as a profession, and therefore strive to uphold the values and ethics set out in the International Association of Facilitator’s Statement of Values and Code of Ethics for Group Facilitators:

Hopefully this brief introduction reflects my passion for this important work and my commitment to discovering more human, more productive, and more creative ways for people to work together.

Contact me if you’d like to know more about the services I offer.

[ 0 comments ] [ May 21, 2008 ]