Facilitating a retreat, strategic plan, or conflicted group takes skill, energy, and experience. While some organizations have the skills internally to facilitate a retreat or strategic plan, here are ten reasons why hiring a professional facilitator may be the right choice for your organization.
- Professional facilitators are avid readers in the art of strategic thinking, professional facilitation, and whole systems change. They bring a best-practices mind-set to their work.
- A professional facilitator has worked with dozens of groups and is equipped to respond to nearly every setting imaginable.
- A professional facilitator asks dozens of questions. Creative questions allow a collective picture of the organization to emerge prior to a strategy event. This listening prepares the consultant to facilitate with knowledge and skill.
- A professional facilitator designs a planning process that is unique to you. Every group is different. Missions vary. People are different. The strategic challenges differ. An experienced facilitator creates meeting designs with you from a reservoir of applications.
- Events facilitated by a professional engage the imagination, generate energy, and build ownership across the organization. They are less likely to be boring, frustrating, or wasteful.
- A professional facilitator is neutral. He or she brings objectivity and focuses on the best process. An external facilitator sees and hears what an insider cannot.
- A skilled facilitator can manage conflict with poise and remain objective. Conflict becomes a creative tool rather than something about which to be anxious.
- A professional facilitator will help your group get specific about action plans. He or she will not let you get stuck with vague generalities.
- Professional facilitators bring a love of people and facilitating groups. They bring joy, humor, and seasoning to your group.
- A professional facilitator brings the intangible: a spirit that draws people together, an emotional maturity that helps the group remain focused, and an enthusiasm that helps the group remain engaged.
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For more resources, articles, workshops, coaching, speaking, and facilitation services, visit www.civicreinventions.com. Email Mark Smutny a question, idea for inclusive meetings, a book recommendation, or a personal story at mark.smutny@civicreinventions.com. He will personally respond to your email.
