The Power of Pause
Impact Stories The Power of Pause How a customized two-day retreat helped a leading NGO’s Senior Leadership reconnect, reset and look forward with renewed energy The challenge A leading NGO supporting children has grown quickly since it was founded in the early 2000s As the organization expanded, so did the complexity of leading it. The Leadership Team (LT) found themselves needing space to pause, reflect, and strengthen how they worked together so they could keep delivering top-quality support to thousands of children annually. The retreat In early 2023, the organization invited UFacilitate to design and lead a two-day retreat for the Leadership Team. At the time, the organization was experiencing rapid growth and wanted to strengthen communication and culture to support its expansion. We began by speaking with each team member to understand their perspectives and dynamics. That preparation shaped an agenda that balanced structure with flexibility. The comprehensive retreat combined team building, working sessions, leadership development and group therapy. Over two days, the team revisited how they communicate, explored decision-making practices, and looked closely at the organization’s leadership culture. Interactive activities ensured every voice was included, while deeper conversations gave space for honesty and connection. The retreat concluded with actionable insights, next steps, and recommendations for ongoing team development, emphasizing a holistic approach to leadership and promoting a positive organizational culture. Looking back, this investment in leadership couldn’t have been more important. Today, the organization faces new challenges, including the difficult step of layoffs in response to shifting policies. Moments like these remind us that the work of building trust, alignment, and resilience isn’t a luxury; it’s what helps leadership teams navigate uncertainty together. The impact By the end of the retreat, the LT had: Clearer norms for communication and decision-making. Actionable next steps to keep development moving forward. A renewed sense of connection, to one another and to the organization’s mission. As the one of their senior leaders reflected: Andres and Diane set the bar for what a productive, engaging, multi-day retreat should be. They customized the retreat to our team’s specific needs, interviewing every member of LT before the retreat to ensure they gained a complete sense of the relational nuances among the group and accounted for all voices. They also drafted a thorough agenda well in advance of the event and solicited feedback from participants, which garnered buy-in and support. Furthermore, they were adaptable and thoughtful, tweaking their agenda on the fly when it seemed LT might benefit from pursuing a different activity than what UFacilitate originally planned. They guided our team through difficult topics and allowed space for team members to voice their thoughts and ideas in a supportive, positive environment. Lastly, UFacilitate drafted a comprehensive summary of takeaways and next steps, empowering our team to continue the forward progress we initiated at the retreat. We came away energized, with a newfound sense of connectedness to each other and our mission, and looking forward to the organization’s future. I would not hesitate for a moment to recommend UFacilitate to those looking for an experienced, creative, and detail-oriented group to lead them in team building and leadership development. Those foundations of trust and connection are proving invaluable now. Even in the face of difficult transitions, the team has a shared framework and stronger relationships to carry them through. Our approach At UFacilitate, we believe facilitation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every team has its own culture, challenges, and way of working. That’s why we start by listening, speaking with team members in advance, mapping out relational dynamics, and designing a process that meets people where they are. Our global community of 200+ facilitators spans 40 countries. This diversity allows us to match each client with facilitators who not only bring strong process expertise, but also understand the cultural context and the sector they’re working in. It’s a balance: the structure of a consulting firm, the flexibility of a curated marketplace, and the human touch that helps people open up. In practice, this means careful preparation, but also adaptability in the moment. We create agendas that are detailed but never rigid, so we can pivot when the energy in the room calls for something different. Our role is to hold space, making sure all voices are heard, guiding teams through tough conversations, and helping leaders find clarity in the complexity. This combination of structure, flexibility, and care is what helps leaders move past the messy human stuff (miscommunication, conflict, cultural differences, egos) and reconnect with each other and their purpose. If your team could use a reset, we’d love to talk. Whether you’re navigating growth, change, or uncertainty, facilitation can give your leaders the space to reconnect, reflect, and move forward together. Ready to build your own capacity? UFacilitate partners with foundations, NGOs, multilaterals, universities, research centers, and local governments to build internal skills through: Strategic retreat and internal offsite planning Leadership training Organizational development We see facilitation as an essential leadership skill. Effective facilitation solves immediate problems and builds the capabilities to address future challenges. If your organization is ready to shift from dependency to autonomy, UFacilitate is here to guide you. Explore our facilitation, leadership coaching, and organizational development services Contact us about your next retreat Let’s untangle what’s holding your team back. Whether you’re dealing with misalignment, low trust, or complexity across cultures, facilitation can move you forward. Book a free Discovery Call
Co-creation at scale: UFacilitate’s five-year partnership with Resilience Initiative
Impact Stories Co-creation at scale: UFacilitate’s five-year partnership with Resilience Initiative When Resilience Initiative set out to strengthen hundreds of nonprofit organizations, they invited UFacilitate to help walk with them in that journey. Over five years, we co-created programs that gave leaders practical skills, trusted spaces, and a supportive community. This is the story of how thoughtful collaboration and consistent learning helped scale resilience across hundreds of organizations. The challenge Nonprofit leaders supporting social justice issues face constant pressures: shifting policies, rising demands, and the weight of caring for their staff. Funders see the strain too, and often wonder, how can one initiative support hundreds of organizations through so much uncertainty? How can they ensure that they can survive and thrive amidst the threat to the rights and survival of the communities they serve? The partnership Resilience Initiative, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, was already creating support for grantees when they invited UFacilitate to join them early on. They recognized the value we could bring in helping leaders collaborate more effectively, and build the facilitation and leadership skills that could support them in navigating the challenging times under the first Trump administration (e.g. policy changes negatively impacting BIPOC and other historically marginalized communities). For us, this was an opportunity to live out our mission: making collaboration more effective by leaning into the messy, human stuff that defines how groups work together. From the start, our role was to complement Resilience Initiative’s vision by co-creating programs that gave nonprofit leaders the tools, confidence, and community to adapt and grow. What began as a few early experiments in coaching and facilitation grew into a five-year journey of co-creating, testing, and adapting supports alongside Resilience Initiative and their network. The journey Resilience Initiative knew that their mission could not be implemented through a single format. It required different kinds of spaces, some broad and accessible, others more personal and in-depth. That insight shaped the journey we took with them, creating a layered suite of programs that supported leaders at multiple levels: People & Culture Learning Series: sessions on timely topics such as generational differences, team dynamics, and organizational well-being. Facilitation Skills & Deep Dive Workshops: targeted trainings that blend practical tools with in-depth exploration of high-demand and practical facilitation skills, equipping participants to apply learning immediately. Peer Coaching Groups: facilitated spaces where leaders tackle real-time issues together, share expertise, and build trusted networks of support. 1:1 Facilitation Coaching Programs: multi-session offerings that help leaders design and lead more effective, equitable conversations across their organizations. 1:1 Leadership Coaching Programs: on-demand individual sessions with built-in feedback loops, tailored to each leader’s challenges and growth goals. Each offering was shaped through dialogue with Resilience Initiative and their intimate knowledge of their community. As new challenges emerged, from political shifts to the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked together to adjust, keeping the programming relevant and accessible. This mix of formats created a continuum of support, giving leaders both the immediate tools they needed and the deeper connections that sustained them over time. This partnership has also expanded across languages and geographies. With UFacilitate’s network of coaches around the world, RI leaders have been able to access coaching in different countries and in their own languages, including Spanish, strengthening both inclusion and connection. The impact Leaders from organizations around the United States consistently describe the programs as practical, energizing, and transformative. These are just a few of the comments from the work we have done with over 300 organizations: “My coach was a great fit, we were able to connect right away around shared values in our career, and I appreciated how organized the process was. The 1:1 coaching really made a huge difference as it allowed me the space to open up and speak candidly to identify where there are sticking points and growth areas for me when it comes to facilitation.” “We tackle real issues and come up with practical solutions, and it is so refreshing!” “The Peer Learning/Wise Counsel has been very beneficial to me and something that I look forward to each month.” “This process was instrumental in helping us transition to virtual facilitation. We became more comfortable with Zoom and learned new strategies to be more effective and engaging.” “My 1:1 coach was incredibly thoughtful and allowed space for tangents, reflections, and processing. My coaching process focused on facilitation, and she made room for conversations about race, systemic injustices, and other topics that influence meeting facilitation.” “Our facilitators for our professional development sessions took a lot of time and care to thoughtfully understand our team’s culture, our specific challenges, and what would be most effective for the way we work.” “My coach is a fantastic listener who helps the people she coaches realize their own potential and ability to solve their own problems. But she’s also adept at offering concrete suggestions for not only being a better leader, but a better person.” Beyond individual skill-building, participants highlight the sense of solidarity and reassurance that comes from being part of a broader community: “Seeing similar experiences across different organizations, and hearing that everyone is struggling with —and overcoming— similar challenges, is really reassuring.” “Group coaching has been powerful for me. I’m very introverted and don’t normally enjoy groups; I chose peer coaching to step out of my comfort zone and I’m so glad I did. Something really dynamic happens in group coaching that I’ve never experienced before, and this new awareness really shifted something for me that I was able to start practicing right away”. The lessons learned Working alongside Resilience Initiative reinforced one of our core beliefs: alignment, impact, and resilience are not built through one-off trainings, but through an ongoing mix of learning, practice, and reflection. We saw how important it is to layer broad, accessible opportunities with deeper, tailored support. Leaders valued the quick, bite-sized sessions that met immediate needs, but they also needed spaces for peer exchange and one-on-one coaching to turn ideas into lasting change. Another lesson was
Building trust through more engaging and inclusive meetings
How coaching helped a new executive director transform meetings and culture at the National Center for Youth Law
From dependency to autonomy: MFJ’s 3 year journey to internal facilitation mastery
Impact Stories From dependency to autonomy: MFJ’s 3 year journey to internal facilitation mastery How Measures for Justice built a self-led facilitation culture When Measures for Justice (MFJ) first partnered with UFacilitate, their goal was clear: design an effective team retreat. Over three years, this partnership evolved, helping MFJ build strong internal skills to plan and lead impactful retreats independently. typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. 3 years 1 facilitator 7 hours per year This focused investment allowed MFJ to move confidently from relying on external consultants to fully leading their own events. The challenge After the pandemic, MFJ faced challenges common to many mission-driven organizations: Rapid organizational growth Geographically dispersed, hybrid teams A need to strengthen internal connection and clarify organizational purpose Their retreats had to go beyond routine meetings. They needed to foster alignment, strengthen culture, and develop internal leadership. Planning such events felt complicated and challenging. Year 1: establishing a solid foundation UFacilitate worked closely with MFJ to design and implement their first retreat, introducing structured tools such as the Success Spectrum and detailed planning frameworks. These resources allowed MFJ to: Reconnect their hybrid team Clearly define organizational goals Practice inclusive facilitation techniques “Brooking, from UFacilitate, proved to be an invaluable resource and a tremendous asset.”— MFJ Senior People Operations Generalist Year 2: enhancing internal facilitation capabilities In year two, MFJ staff stepped into leadership roles. UFacilitate transitioned from facilitator to coach and thought partner, helping MFJ staff take ownership of their retreat’s content and flow. Two key staff members led the process by: Creating the retreat agenda Organizing the event flow Applying facilitation skills learned previously MFJ staff built upon proven methods, with UFacilitate providing supportive guidance. “This facilitation process deepened my knowledge about myself, my values, and what I look for in an event and how impactful an event can be.” — MFJ Team Member Year 3: achieving full autonomy By 2024, MFJ fully owned the retreat’s design and execution. An internal committee confidently used templates, processe values and offering consultative feedback on the staff-led design. “It was deeply satisfying to witness their growing confidence and how they felt empowered to design and facilitate their own processes. They moved from logistics to leadership.”— Brooking Gatewood, UFacilitate Facilitator Results: building a stronger team Over three years, MFJ significantly improved their facilitation skills and team alignment. Initially: Retreats relied entirely on external consultants Staff attended passively Eventually: Retreats became essential team-building and strategic events Staff actively designed and facilitated retreats MFJ developed: A clear, repeatable system for retreat planning Stronger internal facilitation and strategic design skills A more cohesive, aligned organizational culture Ready to build your own capacity? UFacilitate partners with foundations, NGOs, multilaterals, universities, research centers, and local governments to build internal skills through: Strategic retreat and internal offsite planning Leadership training Organizational development We see facilitation as an essential leadership skill. Effective facilitation solves immediate problems and builds the capabilities to address future challenges. If your organization is ready to shift from dependency to autonomy, UFacilitate is here to guide you. Explore our facilitation, leadership coaching, and organizational development services Contact us about your next retreat “Other consultants only offered theory. UFacilitate understood the cultural layers, and knew how to work within them.” — IDB Country Representative “We came away from the retreat energized, with a newfound sense of connectedness to each other and our mission, and looking forward to the organization’s future.” — KIND Senior Leader “It wasn’t just a workshop: it was a cultural reset.” — Easterseals CEO Let’s untangle what’s holding your team back. Whether you’re dealing with misalignment, low trust, or complexity across cultures, facilitation can move you forward. Book a free Discovery Call Facilitation coaching This is what facilitation coaching built. Three years, one facilitator, about seven hours of support a year. That’s what it took for MFJ to move from relying on us to running it themselves. See how it works