Facilitation for teams that need to think clearly
Thinking Differently® is how we run the conversations a group needs to get right, where everyone has to be heard and the outcome has to belong to the room. We design the session around what your group has to settle, we run it, and you leave with the decisions the room has agreed. It works for boards, teams and away days, in any charity or service.
Setting a direction for the next three to five years is a separate piece of work with its own process. It uses the same methods and is set out under strategy and service review.
Free download. Thinking Differently prompt cards (PDF), four cards to print and put on the table. Use them and share them freely.
Listen
We create space to slow down, be heard, and bring real experience into the room, drawing out honest contributions from everyone taking part.
Reflect
We guide the group through activities that help people look beneath the surface, share perspectives and think more clearly, without defensiveness or pressure.
Structure
We bring the structure the conversation needs. Clear processes, prompts and activities give the team a framework to explore what matters and build shared meaning.
Respond
We help the group turn that thinking into decisions it owns, with actions shaped in the room and a clear record of what was agreed and why.
What an independent facilitator adds
Bringing someone in from outside to hold the process changes how a group talks, so people say more and the loudest voices stop setting the direction. Because the process is structured and fair, people are more likely to follow through on what they agreed.
Inside a Thinking Differently® session
Every Thinking Differently® session is bespoke. In practice, sessions tend to fall into a few common shapes: a strategy or planning day, a team review, a goal setting session, or working through something complex that a normal meeting has not been able to shift.
Within that, we draw on different methods depending on what is likely to work best. One of those is LEGO® Serious Play®, run by a certified facilitator. It is a structured, hands on approach where participants build physical models to explore challenges and bring out thinking that usually stays quiet in a normal meeting. It works well when previous conversations have gone in circles, when you want to hear from everyone equally, or when the challenge is hard to put into words. We can use it as the main method for a session, blend it with other approaches, or offer a short taster so your group can try it before committing to a full day.
Clarifying vision after organisational change
We worked with a small charity that had been through a period of change and reorganisation. The staff team and three trustees needed time away to think clearly about their direction for the next three years.
Using LEGO® Serious Play®, the session gave people time to think, talk openly and explain what the last few years had felt like. Individual models let everyone set out their views without pressure, and the group activities that followed made it easier to bring those ideas together.
By the end of the day the team had a shared picture of their priorities and a clear sense of direction.
"James created space for honest reflection and steady, focused discussion. The method helped us talk about difficult issues without defensiveness and build a shared vision we all stand behind. It was the most useful away day we’ve had."
Chair of trustees
Your questions answered
How do we get started?
Get in touch and we will arrange an informal conversation to understand what you need and agree the right approach. There is no lengthy process.
What methods do you use?
We draw on a wide range of facilitation approaches, from structured conversations, flipcharts and post-it exercises to reflective activities, visual tools and LEGO® Serious Play®. Sometimes a single method works best, and sometimes we blend several within the same session. We will think carefully about what is right for your group, your challenge and the outcome you are looking for before we agree anything.
Do we need any experience with LEGO?
None at all. The method is designed for adults in professional settings and works across all backgrounds and experience levels. We explain everything on the day.
Is LEGO® Serious Play® only for team days or away days?
No. It works well for strategic planning, service improvement, culture development and complex conversations of all kinds. We can also use it as a short ice-breaker within a wider session if you want to try it first.
Can you tailor the session to our goals?
Every session is designed around your aims, your team and your specific situation. Nothing is off the shelf.
Do you work with leadership groups over time?
Yes. Facilitation can run as a single session or as a series for a standing group, such as a senior team or a peer network of leaders. The work is led by a facilitator who holds the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Leadership Coaching and Mentoring.