Facilitation
Facilitating a stakeholder consultation
It can be very helpful to use a skilled independent facilitator for a consultation meeting or event. This option can bring facilitation skills that may not be present in the organisation, and/or it frees up internal staff and stakeholders to participate more fully in the event. I have longstanding experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations, both in Australia and overseas. Through the techniques I use, I maximise the chances that all attendees contribute something constructive to the discussion and feel heard. Also, i have a strong reputation for synthesising content as the event progresses, so that participants can see how their contribution sits alongside that of others, even when such contributions are mutually oppositional. This helps reduce the risk of the event's process and momentum being stalled by conflict. I also set clear ground rules to reduce the risk of disrespectful language and behaviour. I charge by the hour, according to the length of the consultation session, the likely preparation time, and the size of report the organisation wants as a result.
Facilitating governance and management meeting practice
New organisations need to establish effective governance and management meeting practice, and I can assist as an independent facilitator to establish the meeting practices that best advance the organisation's work and engage the best from all meeting members. Also, I can assist longstanding organisations revisit their meeting practices. It is important they do this from time to time because it helps renew or update meeting norms. It also helps because meeting members change over time and this can change the meeting dynamic and structure. I charge by the hour, according to the length of the meeting, the likely preparation time, and whether the organisation wishes me to prepare draft meeting practice documents.
Facilitating conflict mediation
Every organisation experiences conflict. What counts is how the organisation navigates it. An independent facilitator can be a helpful step when the organisation has struggled to resolve the matter through its usual mechanisms, or when an organisation wants to move early on an issue of conflict before it worsens. An independent facilitator is an impartial actor in the meeting, and this can help the parties involved focus on the issue at hand rather than on the motives of the facilitator. It also frees up the relevant organisational leader, whether they are the board chair, senior manager, or supervisor, from getting drawn in to the detail of the conflict, especially if they don't have time for, or experience in, mediation. As an independent mediator, I bring a methodology that ensures all parties feel heard, and which identifies the level at which the conflict is operating, and from that find the most likely path is to resolution. I charge by the hour, according to the length and number of mediation sessions, the length of time to receive a brief on the issue, and the nature and size of any report the organisation wants as a result.
Facilitating conferences, members meetings, and similar events
Are you planning a conference or similar event and want someone to chair the event or be the MC? I can help. I can assist with some or more of the following: 1. Introducing the event, the various speakers, presentations, breakout sessions, etc 2. Keeping the event to time 3. Opening monologue 4. On-the-spot initial synthesis of ideas raised in each session 5. Crowd control! 6. End-of-event round-up of ideas and any next steps I charge a daily rate, according to the size and duration of the event, the amount of time receive a briefing, and the nature and size of any report the organisation wants as a result. Outside my work life, I renew my MC skills most Saturdays at Torrens parkrun where I climb up a ladder to give an 8-min welcome address to 300-400 participants.