Ask The EXpert: How does a facilitator add value to our offsites?
Dear EXperts,
We’ve always run our own leadership offsites in-house, and while they feel productive in the moment, I’m starting to wonder if we’re really getting the most out of them. I need to convince my boss that bringing in an external facilitator will actually add value. What should I say?
– Frustrated Head of People
Our EXpert Advice:
Here’s the thing - just because you can facilitate your own offsite doesn’t mean you should.
Think about your last leadership retreat or strategy day. Did you leave with clear, aligned decisions? A concrete action plan? Or did the day slowly unravel into endless discussions, a few standout moments, and a growing pile of Post-it notes that never led to anything?
Most teams who facilitate their own offsites fall into the same traps:
🚩 The loudest voices dominate, while quieter (but equally valuable) perspectives get drowned out.
🚩 The agenda looks good on paper but quickly goes off track once discussions get heated or meander into rabbit holes.
🚩 People are more focused on their emails than actually joining in.
🚩 By the end of the day, energy is low, decisions are vague, and next steps feel… unclear at best.
And you know what? That’s totally okay, because facilitation shouldn’t be yet another thing that falls on the People team’s list.
Too often, companies expect their People leaders to add facilitation skills to their already full plates. But facilitation isn’t something you can just turn on and smash it out of the park first time round. There’s a reason it’s a persons full time job as it takes years of practice, learning and crafting. And when facilitation is done by someone juggling their day job, your away-day values session understandably lacks the focus, objectivity, and structure it needs to drive real impact.
Despite first impressions, a great facilitator isn’t just a timekeeper, note-taker or post-it pro. They’re the difference between an offsite that feels productive and one that actually moves your team and strategy from words into action. Anyone can run a meeting, but not everyone can spark meaningful change. And that’s what you’re truly investing in.
Think about it: when was the last time your leadership team had the chance to really step back, be honest, and make solid decisions without getting bogged down? That’s what a skilled facilitator can do.
A good facilitator brings:
✅ Expertise refined across industries, ensuring best practices and fresh perspectives.
✅ The ability to read the room - picking up on what’s said and what’s left unsaid.
✅ The toolkit to connect the dots, cut through complexity, and drive real progress.
✅ An unbiased, structured approach - keeping sessions focused, productive, and engaging.
✅ The confidence to hold space for tough conversations while ensuring a safe, productive environment.
✅ The energy, humour, and playfulness that makes serious work feel doable - and even fun.
✅ And, they enable you to be involved, not just orchestrating.
Because let’s face it: if left to your own devices, most DIY offsites just go round in circles. You might kick things off strong, but by the afternoon people are distracted, checking emails, or bogged down in debates that are never fully resolved.
A facilitator helps keep you on track - not just with a solid agenda but with an understanding of group dynamics, psychology, and business strategy. They help you:
Cut through noise and nail down the real issues.
Get the leadership team aligned on clear, actionable decisions.
Create buy-in across the team so change actually sticks.
Leave with momentum, not just a pile of Post-it notes.
If you’re trying to convince your boss (or yourself) that a facilitator is worth it, here’s how to frame the conversation:
Highlight the cost of wasted time
How much time do you spend in meetings where nothing really gets done? If your leadership team is wasting just 5 hours a month on pointless discussions, that adds up to a lot of lost time, energy, and money over the year.
Put it in context with other investments
Companies easily shell out thousands on tech tools, office perks, and training - but investing in facilitation has a direct impact on how well your leadership aligns, makes decisions, and works together. What’s the point of a fancy office or expensive software if your team isn’t on the same page about collaborating effectively?
Frame it as a multiplier effect:
A great offsite isn’t just about having one good day - it sets off ripples in strategy, culture, and execution for months to come. Get it right, and one well-facilitated session can shape your whole year.
Test the waters:
If a full offsite feels like too much to dive into, start with something smaller, like a workshop or training session. Once your leadership sees the difference, they’ll get the value.
If you’re looking at the cost of an external facilitator and thinking, “We can totally handle this ourselves” - hold up.
Because what you’re actually investing in is:
The chance to accomplish more in one day than you would in three months of scattered meetings.
Objective guidance that helps your team make actual decisions instead of revisiting the same discussions over and over.
A space where your leaders can fully participate instead of trying to manage the session and participate at the same time.
A structured, expert-led process that guarantees you leave with clarity, alignment, and an actionable plan - not just “good conversations.”
You can keep running offsites in-house and hoping for the best - or you can bring in an expert to get the clarity, alignment, and momentum you actually need.
