Small Group Facilitation Craig M. Klugman PhD Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics UT Health Science Ctr San Antonio

 Used with special permission from Jennifer Peel PhD  Director of Graduate Medical Education  Associate Professor of Anesthesiology ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

WHAT IS A FACILITATOR?

 A person who makes a group’s work easier by structuring and guiding the participation of group members. A FACILITATOR IS

 Actively involves group members  Promotes application, integration, and synthesis of information  Promotes the use of resources  Is flexibile--comfortable with exploring areas outside expertise AN EFFECTIVE FACILITATOR

Managing the process Acting as a resource Remaining neutral FACILITATION TASKS

Striving for consensus Keeping members on task Following the agenda Focusing on problem solving Controlling the flow of contributions Rewarding and motivating group members MANAGING THE PROCESS

 Advising on problem-solving methods  Providing on-the-spot training in group-process techniques  Protecting group members from personal attacks ACTING AS A RESOURCE

Keeping emotionally uninvolved Keeping out of the spotlight Becoming invisible when the group is facilitating itself Keeping silent on content issues REMAINING NEUTRAL

 If you establish yourself as the “content expert” it is nearly impossible to change roles back to facilitator later WARNING

FACILITATOR SKILLS Verbal Techniques Questioning Paraphrasing Redirecting Reinforcing Non-verbal Techniques Active listening Eye contact Attentiveness Body language Silence

SILENCE

FACILITATION STRATEGIES

 listen and encourage members to listen to each other  observe body language  ensure that every member participates  challenge members to substantiate their statements  encourage members to interact with each other PLAYING A FACILITATIVE ROLE

ask members to summarize throughout the discussion relate details to the large picture check the members’ understanding by asking them to use their knowledge promote efficient use of time help the group to focus KEEP TRACK OF THE DISCUSSION

first answer his or her own questions ask if anyone else can answer the question ask permission to answer if the questioner can’t DON’T RESPOND IMMEDIATELY

positively reward members for asking questions -- all questions! promote immediate, useful feedback be patient MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR

Monday, October 24 UT Health Science Center Panel 5:30 pm Discussions to follow ~6:45pm

 How do you handle a group (such as doctor, nurse, patients, others) where people have different faiths but have to come to a decision?  Should health care providers talk to their patients about their faith? How would you want your provider to engage you in your faith?  Should doctors pray with their patients?  How does your faith discuss the issue of suffering?  How does faith help people to deal with suffering?  How do our personal suffering experiences in health care affect our faith? PROMPTING QUESTIONS

Bens, I. (2000). Facilitating with ease! San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Hacket, D., & Martin, CL. (1993). Facilitation skills for team leaders. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp Learning. Hunter, D., Bailey, A, & Taylor, B. (1995). The art of facilitation. Cambridge, MA: Fisher Books. Justice, T., & Jamieson, DW. (1999). The facilitator’s fieldbook. New York, NY: AMACOM. Kaner, S. (1996). Facilitator’s guide to participatory decision-making. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers. Kinlaw, D. (1996). The ASTD trainer’s sourcebook: Facilitation skills. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Rees, F. (1998). The facilitator excellence handbook: Helping people work creatively and productively together. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass/Pfeiffer. Schwarz, R. (2002). The skilled facilitator. San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass. Weaver, RG, & Farrell, JD. (1997). Managers as facilitators. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. References

Questions??? Craig M. Klugman PhD Conversationsaboutethics.org