Good facilitation can make a world of difference. When times are tough or there are big important decisions to be made, it's a chance for everyone to come together and share their ideas.
Inefficient meetings are probably the number one source of frustration in the work place. I won't spend too much time focusing on the problems if what you are looking for is solutions and ways to move forward. Instead, I'll work alongside you and your team to provide a tailor made programme for a one off event or for a series of interventions.
In addition to the more traditional strategic planning and facilitation methods such as Scenario Plannng, SWOTs and Forcefield Analysis, I also use a variety of creative but structured methods such as Rich Picturing and Life Cycles, which are great for revisiting your vision and mission and putting the purpose back. I also use some new methods, not so well known in the voluntary and community sector:
Appreciative Inquiry gets to the heart of what is unique, powerful and 'the best' that the organisation can be. If you can uncover what it is that you excel at, you can plan to do more of it.
OPERA is a method of participative consultation which leads to collective structured views and visable results.
GroupExpo is based on the experience that each of us has a huge amount of competence and experience abut our work and that we and our organisations could use it far better than we already do.
Open Space is a way of organising a meeting or conference so that there is maximum participation, self-management, focus and energy.
All these techniques can be run as a long process or over the course of a single awayday. They can be run with teams as small as three people and groups as large as 90. They can both be used as problem solving exercises or just about any organisational planning or change process. They work because the focus is on participants sharing their views and reaching a group consensus. Simple but brilliant!
Have a look at some brief summaries of facilitation work and get in touch if you are interested in having me work with you and your team. Initial discussions are always free of charge.