The role of independent facilitation in tense discussions

Last Thursday, a multifaceted discussion took place at the Oodi Central Library during a public event organized by the City of Helsinki and Helen, where the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in Helsinki was considered. The event presented the city’s views, Helen’s nuclear power project, zoning, and the role of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in the licensing process, and Helsinki residents were given the opportunity to express their own views.

Akordi’s specialist and veteran of over a thousand public events, Juha-Pekka Turunen, facilitated the discussion as an independent party, ensuring that everyone present could find the event meaningful. This included ensuring that the speakers were able to perform their expert roles in peace, that those asking questions received answers that were as understandable as possible, that as many people as possible had the opportunity to speak, and that the atmosphere of the event remained professional and positive.

This is one example of how we work as an independent neutral party to improve the quality of processes and offer our expertise, especially in tense situations.

A recording of the event can be viewed on the Helsinki channel (in Finnish).

If your organization needs expert facilitation or training in planning and implementing successful public events, feel free to contact us!