FACILITATION
At Soil and Shadow, we design and lead facilitation for executive leadership retreats, team strategy sessions, and organizational off-sites. Our work is focused on helping teams make clear decisions, improve collaboration, and align around key priorities.
Our facilitation team includes experienced executives, organizational strategists, and skilled conveners. We work with leadership teams who need structured, well-designed conversations to move through transitions, make complex decisions, or strengthen team dynamics.
"If you've been lucky enough to experience facilitation by Nikki, you'll know that she creates a brave space for sharing enlightening as well as difficult conversation and has an unparalleled ability to sense the room and shift energy when needed. Nikki can keep a group on track for hours and have us all be happy about it.
She is a siren with a beckoning smile that lures you back into the room, on topic and task. If you're ever tempted to stray, she can pull threads from the groups and tensions, weave them together and create a beautiful tapestry reflected at the systems level, thinking garnered from a wealth of experience that gives the group clarity in ways to proceed."
~ No Regrets Initiative Team
What We Facilitate
Executive Leadership & Strategy Retreats
For leadership teams who need to set clear priorities, align strategy, or navigate a major transition. These retreats provide dedicated time for focused discussion, decision-making, and planning.
Team Retreats & Off-Sites
For teams looking to improve collaboration, solve challenges, or strengthen trust and alignment. These sessions are designed around specific team goals, ensuring that time together is productive and structured.
Organizational Change & Culture Facilitation
For organizations undergoing leadership transitions, restructuring, or shifts in culture. These facilitated conversations help teams align on vision, address challenges, and clarify next steps.
Conflict Resolution & Decision-Making Support
For leadership teams navigating high-stakes decisions or internal tensions. These sessions create a structured space for productive discussions that lead to clear resolutions.
Case Study: Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC)
EPIC designs policies that drive rapid and meaningful environmental progress. Structured as a series of semi-autonomous policy teams, EPIC sought to balance the urgency of its policy change work with the spaciousness needed for team cohesion and collaboration.
Soil and Shadow facilitated EPIC’s full-team retreat, guiding them through identifying key challenges, crafting a vision statement, and implementing an equitable decision-making model. This work evolved into a multi-year partnership, during which we facilitated the executive leadership team through operational design, executive coaching, and the adoption of an agile approach to team culture—supporting EPIC’s structure to support both speed and sustainability.
How We Work
Customized Facilitation
Every engagement is tailored to the needs of the leadership team. We begin with a pre-retreat planning session to clarify goals and design an agenda that supports the intended outcomes.
Experienced Facilitation Team
Our facilitators bring backgrounds in executive leadership, organizational strategy, and team development. We guide structured conversations that help teams gain clarity and alignment.
Comprehensive Engagement
Our facilitation includes:
- Pre-retreat strategy sessions to refine objectives and design the agenda
- Expert facilitation of the retreat, including structured discussions and decision-making processes
- Post-retreat synthesis with key takeaways and next steps for implementation
Engagement & Investment
We take on a limited number of facilitation engagements per year to ensure high-quality, customized support.
To discuss facilitation for your leadership team, schedule a consultation.