Facilitating

Do any of the following sound familiar?

"Our partner meetings would be a lot more productive if they were chaired by an external facilitator."

"If we let someone else chair the meetings then all partners could contribute equally."

"Why don't we ever stick to the agenda and remain focussed on the important issues for the firm?

"Other firms involve external facilitators to run partner away days. Why don’t we find out why?"

&q uot;We need a tax partner to lead on this for us but no one is prepared to take it on."

"Just think what we could achieve if our tax department had the benefit of external facilitation."

Most people would agree that an experienced external facilitator can help ensure that teams can reach higher levels of achievement. When the facilitator has significant relevant experience and is willing to share the benefits of his background in a supportive and constructive manner, so much the better.

Benefits of an external facilitator

• Structures the discussion/meeting
  • to keep to time
  • to encourage contributions from all participants
  • to clarify and summarise frequently
• Encourages participants to accept responsibility for initiating change
• Leaves everyone in the team free to contribute
• Minimises internal personality clashes
• Provides safer ambience if there are any feelings of distrust in team
• Ensures process is kept going
• Keeps the meeting focussed on desired and achievable outcomes

How Mark Lee can help

Mark is able to accept a limited number of assignments to facilitate meetings and development plans in professional firms. Mark has the credibility, expertise and communication skills to operate as an independent authoritative support for the team or firm in question. His aim is to stimulate professional development and to help make meetings more effective, relevant and productive.

Mark has chaired and facilitated hundreds of meetings during his career. He is a keen advocate of timely follow-up and endeavours to ensure that meeting minutes identify both who has agreed to take action and when this needs to be done.

Whilst a partner at Horwath Clark Whitehill Mark initiated and chaired the firm's National Self Assessment Tax Forum and the London office Tax Action Forum. At BDO Stoy Hayward he facilitated the Professional Practice Managing Partners' Breakfast meetings.

As Director of the tax support for professionals team at Chiltern plc, Mark facilitated pre-Budget marketing meetings, tax business development meetings and the MRI UK Tax working party meetings. The perceived value of Mark's chairmanship of the working party meetings led to a dramatic increase in attendance and a request that he continue as Chairman even after he left Chiltern plc.

During Mark's two years as Chairman of the ICAEW Tax Faculty, he established and chaired the Management team. He also chaired all meetings of the main committee and facilitated a number of debates, conferences and memorial lectures attended by hundreds of members and invited guests.

Mark is equally at home whether chairing an internal meeting of half a dozen people, larger functions involving dozens of partners from around the country or a major conference with hundreds of delegates. His aim is always to ensure that all contributions are valued and that everyone gets maximum benefit from being present.

Do you want more information?