The Uncomfortable Truth About Hiring a Strategic Planning Facilitator

Imagine you've finally done it. You’ve convinced your board to invest time and money into a strategic planning session. You've booked the venue, rallied the key volunteers, and carved out a full weekend for this critical work.

Now comes the most important decision: who do you trust to lead it?

For most sport leaders, the first instinct is to find someone from inside your world—a person who deeply understands your specific sport. You look for someone who knows its technical rules inside and out, who speaks the unique language of your coaches and officials, and who has lived the political realities of your provincial or national body. It feels like the safest choice.

But I'm going to share an uncomfortable truth: the belief that your facilitator must be a subject matter expert is one of the most common and costly myths in strategic planning. And the reasons why might change how you think about leadership, strategy, and the future of your organization.

A great facilitator brings something far more valuable than sport-specific knowledge. They bring a process that empowers you. Here’s what that looks like.

A Great Facilitator Honours Your Expertise

Let's be clear: you and your team are the experts in your sport. You have decades of collective experience as athletes, coaches, officials, and parents. You live and breathe the challenges and opportunities of your community. A great facilitator doesn't come in to replace that knowledge—they come in to unlock it. Their primary role is to create a space where your team's wisdom can emerge and be channeled into a coherent vision. They trust the experts in the room: you.

They Offer a "Cross-Sport" Advantage

Top athletes use cross-training to build resilience and gain a competitive edge. The same principle applies to strategy. A facilitator who works across many different sectors—non-profits, community groups, even corporate businesses—brings a wealth of diverse perspectives.

They can say, "A client I worked with in the arts sector faced a similar volunteer burnout problem. Here’s the innovative way they tackled it..." This cross-pollination of ideas is where true creativity comes from. It helps your organization break free from the echo chamber of "how sport has always done it."

They Create a Safe and Equitable Space for Honest Conversation

This is perhaps the most critical function of a neutral, external facilitator. In any group, there are power dynamics at play. The loudest voices, the most senior members, or the "original founders" can consciously or unconsciously dominate the conversation.

An independent facilitator's sole allegiance is to the quality and fairness of the process.

• They can ask the tough questions that an insider can't.
• They can challenge negative group dynamics without fear of political reprisal.
• Most importantly, they can ensure that the quieter, newer, and more diverse voices in the room are given equal weight and consideration.

This is equity in action. It ensures your strategic plan is built by your entire team, not just its most powerful members.

They Are Masters of Process, Not Puppeteers of Content

When a facilitator has strong opinions about your sport, it's almost impossible for them not to influence the outcome, subtly or overtly. The conversation can get steered by what they believe is important.

A process expert, on the other hand, is focused on just that: the process. They are relentlessly focused on your goals, on keeping the conversation productive, and on guiding your group to a destination that you have chosen. They don't hold the map; they just provide the vehicle and make sure everyone knows how to use the GPS.

Choosing a facilitator is an act of trust. You aren't just looking for an expert; you are looking for a partner who will empower your team to build its own future.

Choosing the right partner for this work is one of the most important decisions your board will make. The success of your plan depends on it.

If you're looking for a facilitator who will honour your expertise, challenge your thinking, and guide you through a process that is both rigorous and human-centred, let's chat. Get in touch, and we can discuss how to build a strategic plan that truly reflects the wisdom of your community.