Professional Meeting Facilitators Since 1999
Facilitation Services That Turn Meetings Into Decisions
IdeaGuides facilitators plan and lead your meeting, offsite or workshop, so your team stays engaged, every voice is heard, and you leave with clear next steps.
- Expert facilitators for groups of 5 to 500 people
- On-site, off-site or remote, anywhere in the US
- Sessions from 2 hours to multi-day retreats
Over 150 clients and more than 250 projects since 1999
Prefer to talk? Call 1.415.479.2028
Get Your Facilitation Quote
Tell us about your group and what you want the session to achieve. A facilitator will follow up.
Why organizations hire our facilitators
Every voice gets heard
Our facilitators keep everyone involved, so quiet people contribute and no one takes over the room.
Clear decisions, not just talk
Sessions are built to end with agreed decisions and an action plan your team can start on.
Experienced professional guides
A team of expert facilitators and trainers, several of them authors of books on meetings, innovation and team building.
On-site, off-site or remote
We work nationwide from our San Francisco Bay Area base, or run your session virtually.
Designed around your goals
We use interviews and surveys before the session, then build an agenda that fits your group and outcomes.
Small groups to large crowds
From a 5-person leadership team to 500 people using Open Space Technology, World Cafe and Appreciative Inquiry.
What our facilitation services cover
You bring the people and the topic. We bring a neutral facilitator, a proven process and the tools that keep a group moving. That means less wasted meeting time and more real output.
IdeaGuides has guided executive teams, cross-functional teams, non-profits, government agencies and schools through planning, alignment and innovation sessions since 1999. Every session is tailored, and many end with a written report of the results.
- Strategic planning facilitation, 1 to 3 days, on-site, off-site or remote
- Executive retreats and leadership offsites, 1 to 4 days
- Ideation and brainstorming sessions, 1 hour to 1 day, for groups of 5 to 500
- Problem solving and decision making, 2 hours to 5 days, using CPS, SPRINT and the Aha! Problem Solving Process
- Team building and development workshops, 4 hours to 3 days, including virtual teams
- Messaging workshops, 4 hours to 1 day, with a documented report
- Large group methods: Open Space Technology, World Cafe and Appreciative Inquiry
- Training in leading effective meetings, facilitating ideation sessions, creative thinking and customer service
Trusted by teams across the country
“Our management group came together around a shared vision. We are currently integrating two companies into one. This meeting helped to reduce the we/them and increase the us. Optimism, increased teamwork and confidence in the direction of the company. Top-Three- I would recommend this service. The tools and methodology the Bruce uses are very effective. He brings everyone into the process and helps drive the discussion to a consensus. like_working_with_me?: Bruce is easy to work with, professional in his approach and an excellent communicator.”
“This planning session absolutely met my expectations. Bruce was kind and courteous. He was very effective at keeping the participants engaged and on task. The board came away from the session with good direction and attainable goals.”
“I recommend IdeaGuides wholeheartedly”
How hiring a facilitator works
Tell us about your session
Share your group size, topic, dates and location. Use the form and we will reach out.
Plan it together
A facilitator talks with you about your goals, then may interview or survey participants to shape the agenda.
We guide the session
Your facilitator leads the meeting, keeps everyone engaged and captures the decisions and actions.
Frequently asked questions
What does a professional facilitator actually do?
A facilitator stays neutral on content and runs the process. We design the agenda, guide the discussion, keep every participant involved, and drive the group toward decisions and an action plan.
How much do facilitation services cost?
Pricing depends on the type of session, its length, the size of your group, the location and how much design work is needed. Send us those details and we will put together a quote.
Where do you work?
We are based in the San Francisco Bay Area and work nationwide across the United States, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Houston and Las Vegas. We also run sessions remotely.
How big or small can the group be?
We facilitate groups from 5 to 500 people. For large groups we use methods such as Open Space Technology, World Cafe and Appreciative Inquiry.
How long is a typical session?
It depends on the service. Ideation sessions run from 1 hour to 1 day, strategic planning from 1 to 3 days, team building from 4 hours to 3 days, and executive retreats from 1 to 4 days.
Can you customize the session for our team?
Yes. Every session is tailored. We use interviews and surveys up front to understand your goals and group, then design the agenda and activities around them.
Ready to hire a facilitator?
Tell us about your meeting, offsite or workshop and we will match you with the right facilitator and send a quote.
- Expert facilitators for groups of 5 to 500 people
- On-site, off-site or remote, anywhere in the US
- Sessions from 2 hours to multi-day retreats
Prefer to talk? Call 1.415.479.2028