Imagine a meeting that inspires honest conversation and transformative change on both personal and organizational levels. A meeting where everyone’s input is genuinely valued and appreciated—one that leads to deeper, more meaningful conversations among colleagues and across organizational levels.
Sound like a pipe dream? It’s not. I’ve facilitated hundreds of such meetings, and the ahas and breakthroughs are as rewarding to me as they are to the participants.
A facilitator leads a group of people through (sometimes difficult) conversations to achieve a specific outcome with clear actions to take towards agreed upon goals. As an objective professional, I create safe, comfortable, encouraging environments and draw out the best from individuals to help them find their own solutions to move issues and situations forward. It’s a creative role, and often it means making “on the fly” agenda adjustments to keep the group focused on discussions that are generating the most value.
No matter how much a senior executive says he or she values honest feedback, they’re human too! Those in positions of less power may feel intimidated by those who hold power over their careers. Even when the CEO is the nicest person in the world, the subconscious perception that “this person can make or break my mortgage payment” can hinder authentic communication.
The key is in both the preparation and execution. This is even more important as we find ourselves in a world that has been radically changed by COVID-19.
From small group sessions to large-scale programs regardless if they are in person or online, my job is to create an atmosphere in which people at all levels feel safe and comfortable speaking their truth—because honesty is what leads to change. I listen for what’s being said, as well as the subtext—and, in real time, I assess the value, synthesize the strands, and formulate follow-up questions to generate more valuable feedback… all while simultaneously making sure the meeting stays focused and doesn’t devolve into any one individual’s personal agenda.
I am invested in the success of your meeting. Our collaboration begins with pre-program consultation—I’ll interview as many participants as appropriate to get a good feel for the underlying dynamics and issues. Then I’ll work with you to develop a meeting strategy that will yield the greatest value. I’m right there with you through the meeting and afterwards to assess the key takeaways and how they might influence your next steps.
For over 30 years, I’ve worked with clients in Canada, the U.S., Europe and South America and to facilitate sessions in:
- Strategic Planning
- Leadership Development
- Team Development
- Change Management
- Creativity
- Innovative Problem Solving
- Values and Work Culture
Client perspectives can be seen on my Testimonials page.