Coaching: Mentoring: Training: Consulting: Facilitating
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Steering in the right direction
Facilitation
History shows that some meetings are more challenging than others in delivering their expected outcomes. These events can range from small numbers of very strong minded characters seeking to find a way through conflicting opinions; to a large numbers of managers meeting to determine actions through discussion, feedback, and consensus.
Third party facilitation dramatically improves the value of these very expensive investments of organisational time and cost. We will help support and develop a structure of preparations for these meetings; assist in bringing clarity of desired outcomes, and ensure participation, pace and summation of agreed actions for the record.
There are many critical components to bring under control when seeking a successful outcome of a potential tricky meeting. Such as
- Purpose of the meeting; is it to
- Test plans already drafted by the attendees.
- Draw up a plan with the attendees.
- Allow attendees to brief their colleagues as to what is going on in their part of the organisation; and to be tested by all attendees.
- Receive a proposal and grind it out to a policy statement
- Solve a problem.
- A free ranging discussion about to improve understanding as to what to tackle next.
- All of the above in one meeting.
- Clarity as to the desired outcomes.
- Numbers of attendees; and is their level of knowledge and experience sufficient to contribute to the desired outcomes.
- Levels of rank within the room and how comfortable are they with each other.
- Style of contribution; what is the most appropriate style for the attendees, agenda, and the location of the meeting. Is it briefing, open outcry, syndicates and break out groups; individual responses to material and data circulated in the pre meeting pack?
- Availability of sufficient time to plan.
We can help manage some of the risk out of these events through our experience of surviving tricky meetings as a participant; and by turning potentially challenging meetings into successful outcomes through our facilitation.
Please have a look at a sample document that lays out the preparation and event running order for a 30 people meeting that was about involving all employees in seeking solutions for the challenges ahead.
Document 7.0