Strengthening Individual and Group Capacities for Consensus and Collaboration 

  On this page I describe how I work with organizations as a group facilitator, what you can expect from our work together, and what makes Sierra Circle Consulting unique among consulting firms.

Expect Results!

When you work with me you can expect to see desirable and sustainable changes in your group’s performance and productivity. Expect a clear focus to the group’s work and a detailed plan that captures that focus.  Expect a strong commitment to implement the work they have planned, both individually and as a team.

Along with those results that will impact your bottom line, expect to experience the strategic impact of these “soft” results: new energy, creativity and a new sense of unity among the group. Strengthened teams and emerging leadership. Expect more open and honest communication between people and between units and levels within the organization. Better cooperation among individuals and departments involved in the planning. And, you may be surprised when some trust issues begin to fade away without being worked on directly.

A good way to find out more about my approach is to subscribe to my newsletter, Participation Matters! Sign up now in the form in the column to the left.

Group Facilitation is rapidly growing as a profession. I am one of the founders of  the International Association of Facilitators (IAF), and I follow the IAF Code of Ethics in all my work. 

When I work with you as a Group Facilitator

1. In a design conference I work collaboratively with you and a small group of leaders to identify the critical issues to be addressed by the group, discern the priority focus for the meeting and the outcomes you need. We decide who is needed in the room to address the focus question, and other logistical decisions.
2. After that meeting, I will propose an overall design for your meeting based on our conversation that will meet your objectives. I go over it with you and fine tune it, if needed. We agree on our respective responsibilities to ensure a successful event.
3. I design in detail the workshops, processes, timeline and materials for the meeting and use them to facilitate your meeting as an objective presence neutral on content but guiding the process and keeping it on track.
4. I document in both prose and visual images the major discussions, decisions and products in a very short turnaround time and in the hands of all participants so work can begin immediately with everyone moving forward together.
5. When implementation support is indicated, it is built into the project, not left to chance. I will follow up with conversations or meetings that we have agreed on to ensure implementation.
6. I am flexible. The methods I use are adaptable to different sizes of groups and various time frames. I facilitate meetings of very small groups and large ones of 100 or more participants.  I will work with you to craft a way forward that fits your budget and time restraints.

What makes my facilitated sessions unique?

I don’t analyze your organization and leave you with my recommendations. I assume that practical solutions to a group’s challenges are to be found within the group itself.  My expertise is in designing and facilitating processes for interaction that increase your group’s capacity for creative strategic thinking, consensus decision making and action. 

I ask crucial questions to draw out the wisdom and experience of participants with diverse perspectives. I orchestrate discussions to thoughtful conclusions which build consensus and result in shared ownership of plans built by the group itself. I balance logical and rational processes with intuitive and creative ones that honor diverse thinking styles. 

Now, some consultants work with a small group of senior leaders and look at the whole of the organization. I think they miss valuable input from the front lines and mid-levels and don’t get a complete picture of the organization.

Or, they work with a segment of the organization and look at a specific function, such as marketing, or operations. Then the client may become confused, frustrated, or discouraged when the work of other functions doesn’t align with or support the new effort.

I do the opposite.

The focus of my facilitation work is a mission-critical business issue that must be dealt with. I help you phrase the issue as a question that must be answered by the group. Examples: “How do we expand our markets in the face of the new governmental regulations?”  “How can we work together to provide positive, effective leadership for increasing economic development in [municipality] over the next five years?” “In this recession how do we continue to deliver outstanding customer experiences?”

I get the whole system in the room, entirely or by representation, and look at the future of the whole system in relationship to the meeting focus. Input comes from all levels and functions working simultaneously and collaboratively.

In my experience, this mission-focused approach . . .

•  greatly expands the possibilities of creative solutions and integrated strategies that are owned and supported by the whole organization instead of only by individual departments, managers, or senior leadership.
• helps a group make better informed decisions a lot faster than usual, saving time and money, and my clients are happier. You will be amazed and pleased at the amount of work you can get done in a short time, and the quality of your decisions. One manager told me he was surprised that “egos didn’t get in the way”.

“I’ve been to a lot of meetings in my 32 years at Lockheed.  I’ve tried to compare what came out of those meetings to what we’ve accomplished in the last two days.  The kind of words that come to mind are ‘awesome’ and ‘mind-boggling.’  How much productive work we accomplished in two days!  It’s really an amazing thing.”    Joe Reagan, VP and General Manager, R&DD, Lockheed

Other typical results. . .

Participants begin to re-image their work. They see the big picture. They begin to see possibilities instead of problems. They are energized by having a shared vision of where they are headed and their role in getting there.

Additionally, what happens is a shift in attitude regarding the organization and their individual role in it because their work has become more meaningful to them. Once the tough decisions have been made, the spirit of collaboration and trust that went into those decisions grows within that group and spreads to others. Read about some amazing results our clients achieved working collaboratively to plan and implement new strategies.

Now that you have a better idea about the results you can get in working with Sierra Circle Consulting and how we work with clients, go to the Our Services page to learn about specific services and programs that can help you move forward.

My facilitation supports diversity, participation, creativity, teamwork, reflection and action.