1. Clear expectations and objectives - State the purpose of the meeting, the known issues intended to be addressed, the output requirements  and the resources available to the task.  Outline the expected process intended to be followed.  Be clear on the objectives to help allow people to become comfortable with what is to be achieved.  If the strategy meeting output is to inform the annual plan, budget, corporate review, international group conference or some other particular purposes, say so.  If the meeting is to explore significant current issues and find solutions, try to be as clear as possible about what the issues are (or thought to be) well ahead of time - again, so people can gather their thoughts.  Expectations and objectives may change during the strategy development process but the meeting and its preparation, will feel aimless without a clear starting point.
   
   Your T|M|G facilitator will help keep the meeting on track or, where it keeps veering off track, in consultation with the meeting owner, ask the group to reflect on whether or not the expectations and objectives remain realistic and if not, how the meeting should be adjusted.
   
   
2. The right participants and their roles made clear - Make sure you have people with the right input present and preapred, plus those with authority to make decisions and to act on them.  Without the right participants, strategy meetings lose momentum very quickly (sometimes prior to them commencing).  Not only should formal presenters be asked to prepare, but others likely to be called on for significant information, insight or reflection should also be briefed.  Not everything can or should be prepared and the agenda often provides for a lot of dialogue, creativity, innovation and new value creation, but give people help to think and prepare where possible.  This includes the CEO or meeting owner / leader.
   
   Your meeting facilitator will be careful to ensure that there is space for spontaneous input but not to the exclusion of the most informed or authoritative input.  Having a T|M|G facilitator allows you to be an active, even passionate participant, without having to be distracted by meeting dynamics.
   
   
3. A clear and robust strategy making process - one that is clear about which frameworks and models will be used - both data rational as well as experiential.  The data rational material and formal presentations or reports provide one essential dimension to strategy formation, but no successful meeting (where decisions are made and implemented) is dominated by the facts alone.  Often, the facts can only be considered once people are fully engaged, resistance lowered and dialogue more effective. The meaning given to any data is always impacted by the dynamics of the meeting.  There will be different experiences, interpretations and expectations to be respected, heard and given consideration.  There will be uncertainty to be managed but not ignored.  There will be a need for ways to flesh out the differentiation and ways to find common ground or unifying themes.  The agenda needs to make room for this to occur - just another example of the value of a good facilitator.
   
   A process that spells out what information and analysis will be used as formal input with a clear agenda and expectation of output is really helpful.  That must be complemented by those parts of the process that energize and engage all the participants who influence the understanding of the decisions and the effectiveness of implementation.  Yes, there is likely to be some conflict, uncertainty and swapping of positions, shifting opinions.  Good!  That means you have people in a real stratgy meeting, not a meeting where people are simply ticking boxes.  Your T|M|G facilitator will be busy.
   
   
4. Time to prepare - this is also critical.  You don't want long presentations at the conference, these should be done prior - via web, teleconference or face to face, so participants have time to digest and consider matters.  If there are burning platforms, critical financials or important research or analysis input, participants should have had time to consider and question these - you don't want long winded debates or endless questioning of input data at the conference itself - get as much of it as possible out of the way prior.
   
   Your T|M|G facilitator will ask you and others questions to uncover and prepare for the behind the scenes emergence of issues and opportunities, ideas, anxieties, opportunities.  Without the time for these to emerge prior to the meeting, many are likely to remain suppressed at the meeting or conference.  People often avoid issues of substance in public or time bound environments rather than risk the effects of having them emerge.  The socialising of input well prior to your meeting will make the meeting much more productive.
   
   
5. The important data - hindsight, foresight, insight.  Just what data you require will depend on the expectations, objectives and anticipated issues.  If you are working on corporate strategy and looking out 3-5 years, you are going to need plenty of foresight.  If the strategy you are working on is going to underpin a near term budget and KPIs, less foresight and more market data and insight into capabilities and resources will be needed.  If your perceived big issues relate to competitive dynamics, you will want to understand competitive advantages and innovation options (perhaps drawing on blue ocean / red ocean strategy or other innovation tools).  If your perceived big issues relate to shifting business models in your industry and disruptive technologies, then you are going to need things like futurist input, data on fast growing new entrants and information on incubating R&D relevant to your industry.
   
   T|M|G understands strategy as well as facilitation and will help you work through how best to construct your strategy meeting, its input, content and process, including the sort of time frame needed to get the kind of strategy impact you need to more forward.  If you would like to know more, our contact details are below.  We are always happy to set up a no obligation, confidential teleconference or webinar, working with you to discuss options and ideas so you get a feel for the value T|M|G will bring to your next strategy conference or meeting.

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