Facilitation

There are thousands of definitions of facilitation but I'd summarise it as a process of supporting communication between people to improve creativity, decision-making and productivity.

My work ranges from pairs through small teams to conferences of 300 or more people. I've worked with diverse organisations including charities, educational institututions, small and large businesses, professional service firms and banks. Recent clients have included

Channel 4
The BBC
Johnson & Johnson
O2
American Express

Beyond technique

I've studied and practised a wide variety of techniques for working with people, but in the end I don't think good facilitation can rely on techniques. We risk seeing evidence of a model instead of seeing the people in front of us. And if we do that, we start to collude in predictability and reduce the possibility of new growth. A lively and engaging meeting rarely follows a set path and a good facilitator must be willing to respond to the unexpected.

Spontaneity

I aim to abandon the mask of being the expert who can explain everything, and join people in exploring the unknown territory of new possibility. The unexpected is the hallmark of learning and collaboration and a sign that people's attention has been engaged and they are energised.

Presence

Being present to what's happening in the moment is important. I think change often fails when people are striving to be anyplace other than where they actually are. The impatient effort to reach set goals often stops us from functioning well. Paradoxically, when we fully acknowledge where we are now, a kind of emergent change can take place that is often satisfying and productive.

Free initial consultation

If you're interested in facilitation, please call me on 020 7354 5576 for an initial discussion.

You may also be interested in my articles and podcasts about facilitation