Meetings with large groups of people, especially consensus-building meetings, work better if they are facilitated by someone who does not hold a stake in the outcome of the discussions. Craig Communications takes pride in our ability to provide neutral facilitation that helps the group stay focused on its tasks, explore the situation more fully, minimize interpersonal conflict unrelated to task, work through conflict that is central to the work of the group and build openness and support within the group.

Craig Communications skilled facilitators design and run a process that encourages people to work effectively together on the agenda. We help the group get to know each other through "ice-breaking" exercises, work with them to set an agenda and ground rules, and then will direct and focus the discussion so that the agenda is accomplished within the allocated time. During meetings, we help people stay focused and productive in their communications, and assist with creative problem solving and effective planning. Our facilitators take care to include all participants in the discussion (even ones who might otherwise remain silent), and try to get the group to develop consensus on as many issues as possible. After the meeting, we can provide a summary of options considered, decisions made, and a checklist of next steps, to ensure that the goals of the meeting are achieved.

Craig Communications can help a group:

• identify the appropriate people to participate
• define the agenda
• plan a meeting for useful outcomes, and design the best methods for achieving them
• improve communication and cooperation
• stay on task
• find creative solutions to problems
• increase productivity and effectiveness
• allow all group members, including the manager or chair, to participate in important discussions
• mediate disputes and anticipate difficulties and solve them with advance planning
• synthesize issues