“A big thank you from all of us for your excellent facilitation; ego-free, gave autonomy when we needed it, assertive when we needed that too, and always engaging (in the traditional sense of the word).” David Hepburn – Head of Training & Development, RSPB
Facilitation is a powerful method for helping a group increase its effectiveness and improve how it works. It can include how members communicate with each other, how they identify and solve problems, how they make decisions, and how they share knowledge and learn from each other.
I work with leaders in organisations to facilitate strategy workshops, team meetings, action learning sets and peer coaching groups.
How does it work?
As your facilitator I play the role of a neutral third party who has no decision-making authority. My purpose is to manage the process so that I can help you as a group engage in productive conversation and decision-making.
Through the use of open questions and structured activities I can help you:
- Define the change that’s needed and what you need to get right in making that change happen;
- Identify the key stakeholders who will determine your success;
- Consider how each relevant stakeholder group will benefit from progress and change;
- Define what success looks like for yourselves and for each of the stakeholders who judges your success;
- Tap into what you know already about how to create the change you want to create;
- Recognise, identify and appreciate the resources you have available to you both inside the team and elsewhere in the organisation;
- Uncover strengths and possibilities that you did not know – or had forgotten – you had;
- Determine your short-term priorities and goals;
- Identify immediate steps and actions to trigger change and make progress.
What is my style and how is it different?
I am very aware of how difficult it is to take a group of leaders out of the business for any length of time. I design all my meetings and workshops with a pragmatic focus on outcomes so that we work on what is most important to the group and identifying specific actions to make progress – in other words working on the business while taking valuable time out of the business.
Why use me?
I am an experienced facilitator with over 20 years experience. My experience has been gained from working as an internal facilitator for companies such as P&G, Accenture, Avanade and XL Insurance and an external facilitator serving a wide range of clients.
I have facilitated workshops and meetings for groups as small as 4 and as large as 200 with a variety of aims and objectives. Specific purposes have included strategic planning, launching change programmes, improving communication and decision-making, forming a new team, celebrating and learning from progress and achievements.
What others have said:
“I have worked with Antoinette for the last 2 years on NHS Leadership programmes. It is always a huge pleasure watching her facilitate a group. Antoinette has such a warm, positive style and always manages to engage the group in a fun, empathetic way whilst still ensuring that they are challenged. I always enjoy watching the group leave having already started the process of deciding what they are going to do differently when they return to work, and buzzing with new found tools and confidence.” Gerri Farrell, Company Secretary, CentreStage Partnership Ltd
“Antoinette is an outstandingly professional consultant. She is very alert and highly experienced, and works well with groups and as a coach. She has developed new ideas on conflict resolution and has taken the lead in managing projects for us at sfwork. I am very particular about who I ask to work with us, and Antoinette has responded to every challenge in an exemplary way.” Mark McKergow, Director at sfwork
How to find out more
If you think you or your organisation may benefit from a facilitated meeting or workshop, then why not contact me for an informal discussion.
There’s no commitment, and I won’t try to push you into a sale – we’ll just discuss your situation to see if working together might be a good fit.
You can call me on 0191 286 4311 or my mobile 07957 604783.
Alternatively, you can e-mail me at antoinette@antoinetteoglethorpe.com or use the contact form below.