In today's fast-paced, alwayson working world, leadership teams are under more pressure than ever.
As meetings fill calendars and priorities compete for attention, it’s easy for even the most experienced leaders to feel stretched – constantly busy, yet not always effective.
But for a growing number of North East organisations, a subtle shift is making a big difference: facilitation.
“Facilitation isn’t just a meeting technique,” says Scott Smith, Director at People Spark Solutions. “It’s about creating the space and structure for people to think clearly, work collaboratively, and make better decisions together.”
It’s a skill more businesses are starting to appreciate – not just for away days or big strategic sessions, but as an essential part of how leadership works day to day.
What facilitation really is – and why it matters
At its heart, facilitation is about focus. It’s the ability to guide a group through complex conversations, manage competing perspectives, and keep everyone moving towards shared outcomes.
“In a typical leadership meeting, the loudest voices often dominate, and the quieter – but equally valuable – insights can get lost,” says Scott. “A skilled facilitator holds the space so that everyone is heard, and ideas can be tested in a safe, constructive way.”
People Spark Solutions, based in the North East, works with organisations across the region to design and facilitate sessions that bring clarity, alignment and – crucially – action.
From strategy reviews and cultural change programmes to team development and leadership away days, the common thread is simple: giving teams time to step back, think differently, and move forward with purpose.
Helping leaders do what they can’t always do alone
The benefits of facilitation go far beyond making meetings run more smoothly. It can help organisations tackle some of their biggest challenges – from breaking down silos to managing change more effectively.
People Spark has seen this first-hand. In one recent project, the team worked with a local charity undergoing significant transformation. Emotions were high, and uncertainty was creating tension across teams.
“Our role was to help the leadership team hold space for honest conversation,” explains Scott. “We used facilitation to support reflection, manage emotion, and help the group reach clarity – together. It wasn’t easy, but by the end of the session there was a real sense of alignment and shared purpose.”
In other cases, the impact is less dramatic but no less valuable. Leadership and team away days, for example, are often dismissed as ‘soft’ or purely social – but with the right design, they can be powerful drivers of progress.
“Away days are an opportunity to reconnect with purpose, explore values, and check in on how people are actually feeling,” says Scott. “We’ve had team members share insights in those sessions that completely reshaped how a business approached a project. Those moments matter.”
Space, structure, and the spark that moves things forward
At its core, facilitation is about creating space – something most teams lack.
“Organisations don’t usually have a shortage of ideas,” says Scott. “What they lack is the right space to explore those ideas, challenge assumptions, and decide what to do next. That’s where facilitation comes in.”
At People Spark, that means combining psychological insight with practical tools – making sure that sessions aren’t just engaging, but useful.
“Our approach is never off-the-shelf,” adds Scott. “We take time to understand the organisation’s context, then design sessions that are thoughtful, inclusive, and outcomesfocused. We’re not there to impress – we’re there to help people get stuff done.”
“It’s not about us having the answers. It’s about creating the conditions for the answers to emerge from the people who know the business best – the team themselves.”
So, next time your team gets together, ask yourself – will it be just another meeting, or could it be something more?
To find out how facilitation could support your organisation, contact hello@peoplesparksolutions.co.uk