Facilitating dialogue for problem-solving, strategy and system change

“Every act of effective leadership begins as a conversation, yet the art of initiating and holding a good conversation is one we are seldom taught. Even when you have that skill, there are times when you need to be in the thick of the conversation rather than holding the space for it. Having a good facilitator design the process with you and then hold it skillfully on behalf of all participants can be liberating for you and make a decisive difference for the group.”

- Peter Willis

  • “Peter is an inspiration and has a way of connecting with people that makes them comfortable to think out of the box, to challenge, to learn and begin to create anew. He has a way of connecting the different levels within and across an organisation and creating an environment that allows for all voices to be heard and for concerns and possibilities to be explored together.”

    Mary-Jane Morifi, Executive Director, Tiger Brands

  • “On arrival at the venue the tension in the room was palpable, rival groups had segregated and were whispering conspiratorially. The panel of speakers shifted apprehensively on their seats. It was into this fraught space that Peter stepped assuredly with a unique combination of assured authority, humour and perceptiveness. The ensuing conversations were difficult but expertly facilitated by Peter such that the tensions eased, and he steered the fractured community towards common ground and more respectful and thus meaningful conversations.”

    Prof Justin O’Riain, The Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, UCT

  • “Peter is an experienced, gentle, yet challenging conversation strategist. Not only is he able to hold and host the conversation, but he is also able to provide content with depth, all in his inimitable style – humour, compassion and punch – rolled into one. Peter really knows how to work the room to help groups think and feel together.”

    Vanessa Otto-Mentz, Senior Partner, Deloitte Nederland; formerly Head of Strategy, Santam

  • “Peter was excellent, grasped the culture of our company and its nuances extremely quickly and was able to tap into our requirements very easily, to the extent that it felt like he was one of us. He organised the processing of the strategic dialogues extremely efficiently and was able to drive all meetings to the point where real deliverable outcomes were a reality”

    Andrew Golding, CEO, Pam Golding Properties

  • “The students loved how engaging the dialogue was, how it made them think a bit deeper around their own essence and role in driving change in this crazy world. Your talent for holding space and developing safety and connection quickly does not cease to amaze me.”

    Elspeth Boynton, CEO of Diive, bringing American university students to study in Cape Town

My gift is to help people think wider, deeper and more purposefully together than they might otherwise, especially about matters of critical importance. A group with conflicting viewpoints and strong emotions is, to me, a system that’s alive and ripe for change.

How can Conversations that Count serve you?

  • If it’s important, get a facilitator: Having Conversations that Count help with the design and facilitation of any tricky meeting or workshop gives you the freedom to participate fully.

    Taming the Tension: Conversations can involve acute difference and high stakes. but they don't have to be daunting. Peter will help create a safe space for productive dialogue with practical outcomes.

  • Leadership Coaching: Try an initial 4-session online coaching conversation with Peter and tap into his deep experience.

    Mentoring for Change-Makers: Being a change-maker in this fast-altering world is both thrilling and existentially challenging. A periodic check-in conversation with Peter will help you reset your compass.

  • Intensive Professional Training: Whether you're a seasoned facilitator or just starting out, Conversations that Count's 3-day in-person training programme will hone your skills and boost your confidence.

    Bespoke Solutions: Organisations can tailor training programmes to their specific needs, ensuring their teams are equipped and inspired to handle any conversation, workshop or conference.

  • Fresh Perspectives: Peter offers unique and thought-provoking keynote talks that challenge your assumptions and inspire action.

    A Call to Action: Leave your audience energized and motivated to tackle the challenges we face together.

“In most of our conversations, at work and in the rest of our life, some people simply have more power than others, simply arrive with more power than others. But everyone has exactly the same ability to listen, and exercising it is a form of generosity and of power.”

Image: Three pots in conversation by Diane Salters c. 2011