Simplified we can say that facilitation is helping a group to accomplish its goals. A facilitator focus is mainly on the process of the meeting, to assure that the meeting goals are met.

"A facilitator is one who contributes structure and process to interactions so groups are able to function effectively and make high- quality decisions. A helper and enabler, whose goal is to support others as they achieve exceptional performance."

Meetings will be designed to achieve maximum cooperation and collaboration to get buy in.

Facilitators are skilled and play an independent role and can help unveil group knowledge, coming to decisions and conclusions of long standing issues, creating clarity.

The use of external facilitators can be used for any meeting, but is highly recommended for critical meetings. Examples could be scoping a project, defining responsibilities, status meetings, crisis meetings, conflict resolution.

In order to assure that the meeting design is in line with expectations and needs, we follow a proven sequence:

PREPARATION

1) Assessment and Design:  We start with gathering information which can be done via (group) interviews, observations, surveys etc. The information then will be used to design the meeting or workshop.

2) Feedback and refinement: Once the design is there we seek feedback and refine where needed.

3) Final Preparation: Here we do the detailed design and preparation for the workshop.

EXECUTION

4) Starting a facilitation: During the start of the facilitation the objectives and roles and responsibilities will be explained.

5) During a facilitation: This is where the work takes place. As facilitator we will keep an eye on the progress and the process.

6) Ending a facilitation: As many meetings have a lack of closure, it is role of the facilitator to ensure that the meeting gets round up and action points are defined.

FOLLOW UP

7) Follow up on a facilitation: To assure that activities are being executed, the facilitator can have a monitoring role.