Group Facilitation

I am called in as an external consultant to facilitate meetings, usually when there is a large degree of complexity, when there are divisive issues within a group, when there are high-stake decisions to be made, when there is a crucial need for outside-the-box thinking and fresh ideas, or when a group simply needs help to connect on a deeper level.

My facilitation approach is based in various methodologies including Deep Democracy, the Art of Hosting and Harvesting, Theory U, Action Inquiry and the Expressive Arts field. I draw heavily on my strength as a visual communicator (serving the 80+% of group members who are visual thinkers) and on simple somatic tools to create movement in otherwise stuck situations. I have worked in a variety of sectors including education, arts and culture, health care, First Nations, immigration, energy, green technologies, IT, pharmaceuticals, transportation, neighbourhood planning and housing.

The types of meetings I usually facilitate include:

  • Strategic Planning
  • Visioning & Exploration
  • Team Building
  • Board and Staff Retreats
  • Conflict Intervention

Photo Credit: Jeremy Murphy

What Makes My Approach Unique

Custom Designed Meetings
Custom Designed Meetings

I don’t rely on a cookie-cutter approach to meetings. I custom-design every meeting, drawing from a divers and versatile set of facilitation frameworks, philosophies and tool-kits that I know intimately.

Ability to Go Deep
Ability to Go Deep

I am a conflict expert, with a PhD and a record of scholarship and practice in this area. I can lead a group through difficult and emotionally charged interpersonal, inter-cultural, inter-generational, societal and ideological conflicts. I can take the group deeper, where most facilitators would freeze.

Conflict as Resource
Conflict as Resource

I see conflict as a generative force when groups are ready to face it. My approach to conflict resolution turns tension into a valuable opportunity for group members to realign their energies and revitalize their organization.

Creativity & Diversity
Creativity & Diversity

My facilitation approach is emergent, light, dynamic and fun. No two meetings are the same, and no meetings are boring. I draw extensively on visual, auditory and kinesthetic resources to meet every thinking style.

Efficiency & Action-Orientation
Efficiency & Action-Orientation

I increase the efficiency of group processes by offering clarity and helping groups break through stuck dynamics. I help organizations save time and money and create well-supported decisions that are immediately actionable.

Capacity Building
Capacity Building

I build relationships with my clients and engage with their challenges as a thinking partner. I don’t believe in dependency on consultants. I build the capacity within the groups I work with to solve their own problems.

Testimonials