How Outside Facilitation Changed the Game
This week, we have a special treat…Liam Shamray has graciously agreed to write this week’s blog. Liam is the Marketing Director at Progressive Westman. He also writes the Progressive Westman blog, where he shares tips and insights for businesses across Western Manitoba. I have had the chance to sit and talk with him over the past few month and not only does he have a diverse and impressive back ground, his experience allows him to see problems, an more importantly solutions, through the lenses of how to apply innovation that ultimately speaks to people. Thank you Liam!
Every team has been there — sitting in a room full of smart people, good intentions, and ideas that should lead somewhere. But instead of moving forward, the conversation loops. You circle the same topics, revisit the same points, and leave the meeting with the same polite promise to “pick it up next time.”
We weren’t against change. In fact, we wanted it. We knew something had to shift. What we didn’t know was how to make that shift. That’s where Siere came in.
Enter Siere
From the first few minutes, Cathy’s approach was different. She didn’t walk in with a script or a “proven 10-step plan” to sell us. She walked in to listen — not just to what we were saying, but to what we weren’t.
She asked questions that made us stop and think. She caught us when we drifted into theory and pulled us back to action. She challenged our “what if” conversations and turned them into “how” and “when.”
By the end of the session, our goals weren’t just discussed — they were defined, prioritized, and assigned. They were backed by timelines and ownership. We didn’t just talk about where we wanted to go; we had a clear, actionable path to get there.
Why It Worked
This wasn’t about someone telling us what to do. It was about having someone who could
take the energy, ideas, and expertise we already had, and sharpen them into something we
could actually execute.
No dragging meetings.
No vague “we’ll follow up next time.”
No leaving the room wondering what just happened.
We left aligned, committed, and ready to move.
The Bigger Truth
Bringing in an outside consultant isn’t about admitting you can’t lead yourselves. It’s about having the humility to know that sometimes the fastest way forward is with someone who isn’t tangled in the politics, history, and habits that shape your day-to-day conversations.
A skilled facilitator sees what you can’t because you’re too close to it. They spot the patterns, cut through the noise, and keep you focused on what matters most. For our team, turning talk into action didn’t just change the process — it flipped the switch on momentum. And here’s the thing about momentum: once you have it, it doesn’t just keep you moving… it pulls you toward possibilities you didn’t even know were on the table.
About the Writer
Liam Shamray
Marketing Director, Progressive Westman
Liam Shamray is the Marketing Director at Progressive Westman, a Brandon-based company that helps businesses stay clean, professional, and efficient through mat and uniform rentals, laundry services, sanitation supplies, and cleaning equipment.
He focuses on making an often-overlooked industry easier to understand — creating clear messaging and smarter systems that connect what Progressive Westman does with how customers experience it. Liam’s work blends marketing strategy with process improvement, helping the company run smoother, from marketing to operations.
