Do you need to get more real outcomes from your meetings? 

An external facilitator is for when there is more at stake than running a good meeting.

Facilitation

Success comes from the careful preparation undertaken for each facilitated session.  
  • Do you need ​identify the most important topics, get clear on the outcomes and justify the costs of bringing the group together?
  • Do you need to develop a structured program so that the meeting runs smoothly, effectively, is enjoyable and manages the attendees energy and focus to achieve the identified outcomes?
An independent facilitator uses a structured approach and tailored work processes that make sure that your meetings, project workshop and group events are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible all to achieve your desired outcomes while maximising your investment of time and money.

Does any of this sound familiar?

  • You know you're strongly invested in a particular position but want to hear and be receptive to other possible alternatives.
  • You're not sure how to get the best from the group or manage and guide them to achieve the desired outcomes.
  • You feel time is wasted on unimportant matters while the big issues are ignored.
  • You're over having one or two personalities take over and not hearing what the rest of the group have to say.
  • You're tired of coming out of meetings and feeling nothing substantial was accomplished.
We had an excellent seminar with Julie.  She had the vibrancy and skill to draw out of us the core values and function of our Order, to look at these, and to decide what we could do better and what we could do differently – breaking new ground.

​F. Rigg, Order of St Luke (OSL)

People who will get the most out of an external facilitator

Leaders or managers who:
  • need to be fully involved in the content creation, 
  • want to build trust, get full participation and tap into the diversity of thinking and experience in the room,
  • need to get consensus from a room full of differing views and competing priorities,
  • want the group take ownership of the solutions, 
  • ​understand that a humour is even more important when the discussion is serious, and
  • want to address the important issues and get real outcomes.

The Process

Client partnership and programme design

A pre-session discussion is used to clarify your needs and gain a comprehensive understanding of the context, dynamics, issues, and possible outcomes you are after.  
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​The design of the session is created with you around your needs and expectations.  This includes discussion on the best ways to engage your people in frank and open dialogue that will lead to a cohesive consensus and agreed outcomes.

Programme Facilitation

The facilitation on the day is to assist the group to work purposefully and achieve their identified outcomes. 

It is about creating a safe environment and establish a trusting relationship with participants to allow an easy flow of information and communication across the group. 

 The facilitator is there to guide, create and sustain a participatory environment where participants were at ease with the process and motivated to contribute. ​

Post-Session Debrief

The post-session debrief allows for reflection on what went well, what could be improved and identifying any opportunities as a results of the session.  

​The development and circulation of feedback and outcomes from the session can also be covered during the debrief.

The Benefits 

  • Feel confident that most important topics and required outcomes are identified so you can justify the time and costs in bringing a group together.
  • Have expert advice and input in developing a structured program so that it runs smoothly, manages energy and focus and is effective in working towards achieving your identified outcomes.
  • Know that you are able to be fully involved and contribute to the content without needing to worry that the group will be kept to the program and time.
  • Have a neutral party build trust and get full participation from the group so the attendees feel ownership of the solutions. 
  • Have confidence that the multiple competing priorities and personalities in the room will be managed so you'll get the most out of the attendees and the diversity of thinking in the room.
  • Come out knowing that the important issues were addressed and you have accomplished what was possible.
If you're from a Professional Service Industry, Not-for-Profit, Sporting, Education, Community or Church Group and are working on something important that requires real positive outcomes then an external facilitator may be exactly what you need for success.

​Each session is developed and tailored to your needs and restraints so contact me directly to discuss what you require.
Julie facilitated an excellent workshop for Vigil Monitoring at the end of 2014. We were very impressed with Julie’s unique mix of professionalism and friendly nature across the complete process.  ​We provided a bare bones brief which Julie, via interviews and communications, formed a customised programme which once complete, met all of our goals.  The well structured programme allowed us to better understand our needs and also describe an outline of the workshop to potentially apprehensive staff. The workshop itself was very enjoyable even though we dealt with some serious topics. 

​Tim Barnaby - Product Designer, Vigil Monitoring

Common Questions

What type of engagements do you facilitate for?
  • Leadership and Strategic Retreats
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Leadership Workshops
  • Value Management
  • Group Vision, Values and Goals
  • Idea Generation / Solution Generation
  • Education Workshops
  • Industry Panel Moderation
When should we use an external facilitator?
​Use an external professional facilitator when: 
  • the results of the meeting are critical.
  • consensus is required and there are many strong opinions in the room.
  • there are no apparent good answers, and you need to find new, creative solutions.
  • the meeting leader is strongly vested in a particular positions, but want to hear and be receptive to other possible alternatives.
  • the team needs to feel ownership of the solution.
  • neutral party guidance is necessary to build trust or get full participation.
  • the desired outcome of the meeting or the work process needed to reach the desired outcome is unclear or ill defined.
  • you lack the internal experience or expertise to manage and guide the group through the work process (e.g. strategic planning, process improvement).
  • you need to be fully involved and contributing to the content and can’t do this if you are running the meeting as well.

Client Story: Project Orientation Workshop

In preparation for the commencement of the design of one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects of its type it was vitally important that we had a highly engaged and strongly connected team working in harmony together from day one. This is never easy, particularly when you are assembling a team from multiple technical, geographical, cultural, and life experience backgrounds.

Julie worked closely with myself and the Project Engineer to form the strategic vision for the required operational and behavioural performance of the team. This comprised of mapping out clear workable objectives and goals to get the best out of our people from the start and maintain the health of the project (and it’s people) over time.

With Julie working alongside us and coaching us through the many options and sticking points, we were able consider and devise the most productive way in which the team would be formed so to work collaboratively together in a shared office space. The support Julie provided through interactive and creative working sessions helped me realise that establishing a fun, creative and supportive environment does literally help productivity; which is ultimately what I and the project will be measured on.

I have personally found Julie to be a joy to work with. She approaches all of her work and the people she meets from a coach's perspective, meaning she genuinely wants everyone to achieve their maximum potential and be the best they can be in all aspects of life. Julie’s positive approach to the work she does and the activities she creates to promote and support strong relationships is infectious.

Dave Ward, Principal Engineer