Many Teams or individual Work Sessions can benefit from the work of a Facilitator. Both the Leader and Facilitator of a Team or meeting focus on the purpose, but their roles differ and can complement each other, resulting in more efficient and effective work. While the Leader actively manages the Agenda and has a vested interest in the outcomes, a Facilitator uses the Agenda as a reference point and focusses on the Team or meeting process. Both work to actively encourage participation and collaboration among participants. However Facilitators bring a working knowledge of a variety of tools and techniques that can help plan, organize, and manage meetings. Depending on the Facilitator, these may include:

• Planning and Organizing Tools, Including Charters and Aim Statements
• Outcome-Focused Agenda Design
• Knowledge of Critical Team Roles & Responsibilities
• Social Interaction Tools
• Problem Solving Tools
• Creativity Tools
• Decision-Making Tools
• Performance and Outcome Metrics

Perhaps just as importantly, Facilitators bring two other important qualities to the work of a team or meeting: 1) An unbiased perspective, and 2) Experience in accelerating and enhancing the work of a variety of other groups working on a variety of objectives. Experienced Facilitators have seen many situations and helped overcome many challenges. As a result, an experienced outside facilitator will bring unique knowledge and perspective to your Team or meeting, resulting in a more efficient and effective process.

Jeff Schilling is an experienced and popular Facilitator of meetings, teams and projects. If you think you may benefit from an outside Facilitator, contact Jeff for a free initial discussion.