In world of social, environmental & economic disruption & uncertainty…
…purpose-led organisations need to build resilience, catalyse change and scale their impact.
People
You know that to make progress, you need to effectively engage colleagues and stakeholders.
Problems
Effectively engaging colleagues and stakeholders often proves difficult and progress stalls.
Progress
As specialist facilitators, we help get you the engagement you need to unlock progress.
We’ve all been there – endless meetings where lots get said, but nothing moves forward. Or worse, misunderstandings, people on their soapboxes, and conflict stall progress. It’s frustrating and a waste of time.
You know these are barriers to productive meetings, but they are not the real problem.
The reality is that people are complex and there is always much more going on in the room than the discussion you can hear. Different perspectives, priorities and prejudices are all exerting their influence.
It’s essential to understand this hidden territory when planning meetings and workshops so you can navigate it successfully.
With specialist facilitation, you and your colleagues or stakeholders can reach a consensus, agree on actions, and work collaboratively to deliver them.
How we work with you
As specialist facilitators, we have over twenty years of experience supporting purpose-led businesses and organisations to build resilience, catalyse change and scale their impact. We know that every meeting, workshop and organisation is different.
A) Map The Territory
We start by helping you map the hidden territory you need to navigate. Without getting bogged down in analysis, we help you uncover what’s blocking – and what could unlock – progress.
What are participants bringing into the room? What’s going on besides the agenda you are discussing?
B) Define Success
Next, what does success look like for your meeting or workshop? Our workplace cultures usually define success by what was contributed, learned or agreed. Important, but we help you define what really determines success: what participants feel or believe about the topic and the next steps.
How will participants feel at the end of the meeting? What will they think and believe? What will they do now?
C) Make A Plan
Only then do we design and deliver a bespoke facilitation plan that sets you up for success.
Which activities, in what order, are needed to engage and involve participants on their journey from A to B.
The result is an event that not only achieves the outcomes you need, but is also remembered and talked about for all the right reasons.
Osbert and Morag did a great job planning and facilitating the first gathering of the Coalition for Wind Industry Circularity. With their help, new and potential members worked really well together to define how CWIC will operate and to agree its priority action areas.
Paul Cantwell
Knowledge Exchange Fellow
University of Strathclyde
An excellent session. It has helped build strong foundations for our strategic planning and team building. You pitched the format and tone of the sessions just right and, as always, brought a lovely encouraging style.
Ruth Wolstenholme
Managing Directorr
Sniffer
I recommend Osbert for his knowledge and experience, ability to deliver well-structured and successful workshops, and for his deep understanding of sustainability and social responsibility issues and integrity in how he goes about his work.
Dave Gorman
Director of Social Responsibility and Sustainability Department
University of Edinburgh
Meetings and workshops for purpose-led organisations
As specialist facilitators, we help you deliver outstanding meetings, workshops and multi-session programmes that support your purpose-led organisations to build resilience, catalyse change, and scale your impact.
We work with businesses, public agencies, government departments, NGOs, research centres, social enterprises, membership organisations, cross-sector initiatives, foundations and others.
When required, the workshops and programmes can incorporate elements of professional development, where participants develop their personal resilience and their capacity to make greater impact.
We’ve designed and led everything from an offsite strategy session for eight NGO board members, to a planning meeting for 50 members of a cross-sectoral collaboration; from a week long leadership workshop in an off-grid mountain lodge, to a programme of six, monthly workshops to embed nature in regional decision making.
Stakeholder engagement & consultation
- Staff
- Communities
- Industry
- Policy development
- Standards development
Problem solving & planning
- Horizon scanning
- Context analysis
- Creative innovation
- Strategy development
- Work planning
Collaboration & action learning
- Industry / academia partnerships
- Supply chain initiatives
- City development initiatives
- Behaviour change
- Network development
The topics and sectors we’ve worked with include: active and sustainable travel; waste, recycling and circularity; climate psychology, behaviour change and sustainability leadership; community climate action; renewable energy, local energy and district heating; natural capital, biodiversity, ecosystem services and environmental protection; regenerative agriculture, sustainable food, forests and land use; climate adaptation and just transition; green finance and funding programmes.
At last I seem to be getting some real traction and influence in this and the programme has helped me identify the parts of our organisational system where I could have the most effective influence.
Chris Smith
Subject Lead – Arts
University of Plymouth
Knowing more about how to make change has given me a feeling of empowerment. I’ve been really pleased to see how the approach has worked and is valued.
Sarah Lee
Senior Associate Architect
Stride Treglown
The systems approach was a bit of a lightbulb moment in recognising that we need both direct action on those things we could easily influence as well as pushing for more strategic change.
Oli Mackie
Strategic Service Manager
NSPCC
For purpose-driven professionals
Realise Earth Netwalkers
Join our group of purpose-driven professionals, creating time and space to make connections, restore our energy and increase our impact, by walking in green places, in and around Edinburgh and the Lothians. Read more…
Newsletter
A short, personal email from Realise Earth co-founder, Osbert Lancaster. Anything from talking about meaning and purpose with colleagues to looking after yourself when the going gets tough. Every two weeks or so. Why not try it?
Meet the Realise Earth team
Specialist facilitation is our passion. For over twenty years, we’ve been helping purpose-led professionals make greater progress using psychology, systems thinking, and a deep understanding of how to build resilience, catalyse change, and scale impact.
Osbert Lancaster | Co-founder & director
Facilitator, consultant and trainer. 20+ years of helping leaders and managers of organisations large and small deliver change for people and nature. Led the development of the University of Edinburgh’s pioneering sustainability strategy. Co-created, with Morag, a UNESCO recognised leadership programme. Aspiring improv performer. Facilitation mantra: Talk less, listen more.
Morag Watson | Co-founder & non-executive director
Climate change, sustainability and leadership policy expert. Director of Onshore for the trade body Scottish Renewables, advising the Scottish and UK Governments on transitioning to a net zero, renewables-powered energy system. Former UNESCO expert adviser and WWF-UK policy officer. Self built a Passivhaus. Facilitation mantra: People are people-y.
Richard Profit | Co-founder & non-executive director
Sustainability strategy and governance specialist. CEO of the Cool Farm Alliance, working with organisations around the globe, supporting their sustainability journeys as they decarbonise their supply chains. Former Global Operations Sustainability Senior Manager, PepsiCo. Walked and skied to North Pole. Facilitation mantra: Inquiry over advocacy.