FACILITATION
IN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND TEAM EFFECTIVENESS (TEAM BUILDING)
We have
been assisting NGOs, small technology companies and divisions of government
departments for many years in getting clarity on the issues and opportunities
facing them as organizations and teams.
THE
ESSENCE OF FACILITATION
The approach
varies from group to group but largely follows these steps:
-
gathering
information in advance of the session to initiate thinking and establish
trust;
-
bringing
the group together for a one or two day session (often off site);
-
setting
ground rules for open and frank discussion;
-
brainstorming
to identify issues in the group, sorting and prioritizing the issues;
then
-
conducting
(high level) action planning to address each issue; producing 'as said'
notes of the session.
... all the while
directing traffic, ensuring everyone is heard, recording faithfully what
was said (and what was meant); using humour to keep interest and energy.
(Occasionally the facilitator is required to wear a red cape.)
THE
STRUCTURE OF A STRATEGIC PLAN
-
It
describes the preferred future for the Organization in the context of
its world.
-
Ironically, often it is a plan to plan.
-
It
is a communication tool.
-
It
has structure
-
It
is brief!
For
more detail click here
To
paraphrase Stephen Leacock: I don't believe in team-building, but I find
the harder people work at shared purposes the more effective the team. ("I
don't believe in luck, but I find the harder I work, the more of it I have!"
SL)
