Are You Hiring the Right Kind of Strategic Planning Facilitator?

Recently, I was having a conversation with a leadership team (CEO, CFO, and COO) about having me facilitate the development of their strategic plan.  This wasn’t new territory for them. They’ve been doing strategic planning every three years for over a decade.  Everything sounded straightforward… until I paused and said:

“Before we go any further, I just want to make sure you’re hiring the right kind of facilitator.”

You could feel the shift immediately.  They looked at each other.  Because it’s not a question most teams consider.  But it should be.

There Are (At Least) Three Types of Strategic Planning Facilitators

Not all facilitators are the same. And the type you choose will significantly shape not just your process, but your outcome.

1. The Consultant Facilitator.  This is someone with deep industry expertise. They often bring:
   • Competitive analysis
   • Market trends
   • Benchmarking data
   • Strong opinions about what your strategy should be

They don’t just facilitate, they influence based on their understanding of the industry.  That can be incredibly valuable, especially if you’re entering new territory or need an external perspective.

But here’s the tradeoff:  They often have a point of view, and whether consciously or not, they may steer the conversation toward it. The data, the framing, even the questions can subtly guide the team in a particular direction.

Sometimes that’s helpful.  Sometimes it overrides the wisdom already in the room.

1. The Methodology Consultant/Facilitator.  This type of facilitator brings a well-defined, often proprietary process.  They’ve honed it over time. It’s structured, proven, and repeatable, and they’ll take your team through their methodology step-by-step.  This works especially well if:
   • Your current planning process feels loose or inconsistent
   • You want more rigor and structure
   • You’re looking to “upgrade” how you plan

The strength here is discipline, especially when you don’t have much.

The limitation? The process can sometimes become the focus, rather than the unique dynamics, language, and needs of the team itself.

1. The Process Facilitator.  This is where I sit.  A process facilitator starts from a fundamentally different belief:  The knowledge needed to build the strategy already exists in the room.  The process facilitator’s role is not to provide the answers.  Rather, it’s to help the team:
   • Access what they already know
   • Have the conversations they’re not having
   • Align around what truly matters
   • Build something they genuinely own

A process facilitator works with your existing language, your culture, and your ways of thinking rather than impose an external framework.  And if expertise is needed?  We bring it in as a voice, not the voice.

Why This Distinction Matters

Strategic planning isn’t just about creating a document.  It’s about building alignment, clarity, and commitment.  And here’s the key:

People don’t commit to a strategy they were led to.  They commit to a strategy they helped create.

The type of facilitator you choose will either:

• Drive the strategy for you
• Lead you through a process
• Or help you discover and own your strategy

None of these is inherently right or wrong.  But one of them is right for you, depending on what you actually need.

So instead of asking:  “Who should we hire to facilitate our strategic plan?”

Ask first, “What kind of facilitation do we need right now?” because your answer may change everything.

Related Articles:

How to Keep Your Strategy Front and Center (and Out of the Credenza)

Co-Creating Strategy: A Better Way to Align Leadership

Facilitating Strategic Planning: 7 Things Most Leaders Get Wrong