Hiring a facilitator for your strategic planning session or other critical meeting can feel like scrolling through a streaming service with thousands of movies. In fact, in this day and age, which streaming service do you even start with? You know a great story is out there somewhere, but which one is right for your team? Let’s grab the popcorn and dive in.
The fact that you’re searching for a facilitator to help you with business planning is a great first step. According to the BDC, “It’s important to involve an external facilitator to guide the process. This person can make sure the exercise results in a plan useful to your company that doesn’t sit ignored on a shelf. They can also ensure all perspectives are heard.”
Here are some key things to look for when searching for a facilitator in Vancouver (or anywhere really!)
1. Facilitation Specific Training
It’s like the wild west out there for facilitators because it’s largely an unregulated industry. Being a wiz at PowerPoint and owning stock in 3M (the maker of Post-it Notes) does not a fantastic facilitator make. Real facilitation is a learned skill. It requires structured education, experience with group dynamics, and the ability to guide conversations toward alignment and action. Look for facilitators with formal, hands on training in facilitation to ensure they are able to adapt and adjust to your team’s dynamics while keeping your goals in focus.
Here at Wilkins Creative Insights, C.J. holds a Certified Master Facilitator designation from the Center for Executive Coaching.
2. Diverse Sector Experience Matters
Vancouver organizations cover every sector you can imagine, from tech startups to engineering firms, creative agencies to not-for-profits. You want a facilitator who has experience across multiple industries, so they can adapt their style to your team rather than forcing your team into theirs. Further, this cross-industry experience can open up new perspectives your team might not have otherwise been exposed to.
Likewise, a facilitator with broad exposure has likely seen similar challenges before and can anticipate where discussions might stall or derail. However, an expert facilitator uses this experience to avoid making assumptions and answering the questions for your team. This versatility is like a director who has worked in every genre… They know what it takes to make you laugh, cry or smile, especially when there’s a plot twist.
3. Large, Small and Everywhere In Between
It’s no secret that different sized organizations have varying needs when it comes to facilitation in Vancouver. What works for a team of 5,000 probably falls flat for a team of five. A good facilitator has real-world experience working not just as a facilitator, but inside businesses, government and not-for-profits of all sizes. This experience helps guide your team toward a solution that works within the scope of your business. For example, a large organization may have specific reporting requirements around KPIs that a smaller organization simply doesn’t have the employee capacity to generate. Keeping your planning real for where you are and where you want to go is critical for your success.
4. Strong Communication Skills
A great facilitator does more than manage an agenda. They listen actively, ask intelligent questions, and communicate clearly without jargon.
Ask yourself during your first conversation:
- Do they listen carefully and understand your goals?
- Do their questions uncover real issues rather than just scratching the surface?
- Can they explain their process in a way that makes sense?
- Do they inject a touch of humour to make discussions lighter?
If the facilitator can do this before your session even begins, chances are you can trust they will manage the room effectively, even when things go off-script.
5. Facilitator vs. Trainer – Knowing the Difference
It’s easy to confuse these roles.
A facilitator guides discussions, fosters alignment, and helps your team make decisions. Their focus is on collaboration and ensuring the group reaches actionable outcomes.
A trainer, on the other hand, teaches skills or concepts. They deliver learning content, lead exercises, and help participants build abilities such as communication, leadership, or problem-solving.
If your goal is strategy, alignment, or solving a complex issue, a facilitator is the right choice. If your goal is skill-building, you need a trainer. Sometimes both roles are useful, but being clear about your objectives from the start is essential.
6. Handling The Characters
Every team has difficult moments, from strong personalities and quiet participants to emotional tension. A strong facilitator can:
- Redirect unproductive conversations
- Allow constructive and healthy conflict while keeping the temperature in check
- Bring quieter voices forward
- Keep dominant voices in check
- Stay neutral while guiding decisions
Ask your facilitator when you’re considering them how they handle those range of voices and opinions.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right facilitator in Vancouver is about more than credentials. It’s a unique combination of training, experience, skill and, let’s be honest, personality. The right facilitator can make a business planning session exciting and engaging. We all know what those other sessions can feel like (oh have we sat in those meetings watching the clock seconds slowly tick forward).
When facilitation is done well it can feel just like the perfect movie, everyone leaves energized, and talking about how good the session was long after the credits roll – in part because they have accountability baked in.
With a bit of luck, your next strategic session might just be the blockbuster hit your business deserves. Ok, we’re done with that film metaphor now.
If you’re Looking for a facilitator who can guide your team to success, reach out today.
