Services
Facilitation, Planning, Problem Solving and Workplace Mediation
Groups face difficult challenges from time to time. Strategic planning, launch of a new project, restructuring discussions, and interpersonal conflicts are a few instances when professional facilitation or mediation is useful. It can kick-start the initiative, or address fears or misunderstandings that may present barriers to moving forward.
We use our unique model developed from research on creating deep and lasting change to guide all our work in this area. Our facilitated sessions are designed in partnership with the client, ensuring that the group’s needs are met in terms of strategic, operational and experiential objectives. This means that clients not only achieve their goals but that relationships are enhanced and participants find the experience satisfying on a personal level. And that the outcomes achieved can last after the session has ended.
As facilitators, our role is to ensure that concrete outcomes are achieved while encouraging full participation, promoting mutual understanding, and fostering inclusive and innovative solutions. At the same time we model skills that enable personal learning, effective teamwork and sustainable agreements.
Our facilitation methods include, but aren’t limited to the following:
- Environment and historical scans
- Mission statement development
- Visioning and strategic planning
- ICA conversation and workshop methods
- Tools for problem analysis, decision making and planning
- Open Space Technology
- Mediation techniques
- Kegan/Lahey Immunity to Change methodology
- Gestalt coaching
April was awesome! We had 22 independent audit structures that needed an overhaul.
Through facilitated workshops, and conflict management we restructured the audit community into one cohesive stronger structure providing improved service delivery.
Later, when faced with the mammoth task of unifying 22 separate financial operations into one best practice branch, Whole Systems came to my rescue. Through interactive workshops of 35 to 150 people we standardized the operations on best practices and built consensus and trust. Staff feedback was very positive e.g. “You gave us a voice, you listened, and we did it together – thank you”.
Change is not easy and Whole Systems helped us embrace it. Thanks go to April for the knowledge and skills to guide us to success. I cannot say enough good things about you.
Pauline Moeller
Director Financial Services
(Former Chair, Audit Committee)
Ontario Public Service