Working with Groups - an introduction to facilitation

What is Facilitation?

Stages of Group Development FormingForming StormingStorming NormingNorming PerformingPerforming (Tuckman, 1965) Adjourning and Transforming

Communication Influence 38% Tone of voice 7% Spoken Words 55% Body Language / Visual

What can Facilitation help groups to achieve? share information and ideasshare information and ideas develop knowledge, skills and thinkingdevelop knowledge, skills and thinking make linksmake links review progressreview progress plan strategiesplan strategies take risks and experimenttake risks and experiment be creativebe creative talk about successes and challengestalk about successes and challenges GW

Hierarchical - in this mode the facilitator directs the process and makes decisions Co-operative - in this mode the direction of the process is shared between the facilitator and the group members Autonomous - in this mode the facilitator allows the group members autonomy to direct the process themselves 3 Modes of Facilitation (Heron, 1989)

Planning Meaning Confronting FeelingStructuringValuing 6 Dimensions of Facilitation (Heron, 1989)

1. Planning – This dimension is concerned with the aims of the group. How shall the group identify its objectives? 2. Meaning –the cognitive aspect of facilitation, how participants understand what is going on. How shall meaning be given to and found in the experiences and actions of the group? 3. Confronting – the challenge aspect of facilitation, it concerns raising the awareness of group resistances, avoidance of issues, repeating patterns etc. How shall the group’s awareness be raised about these matters? 1. Planning – This dimension is concerned with the aims of the group. How shall the group identify its objectives? 2. Meaning –the cognitive aspect of facilitation, how participants understand what is going on. How shall meaning be given to and found in the experiences and actions of the group? 3. Confronting – the challenge aspect of facilitation, it concerns raising the awareness of group resistances, avoidance of issues, repeating patterns etc. How shall the group’s awareness be raised about these matters?

4. Feeling – the management of feeling or emotion in the group. How shall emotions within the group be managed? 5. Structuring – what methods of learning are to be used. How can the group’s learning experiences be structured? 6. Valuing – the creation of a supportive climate that values the worth of individuals. How can a climate of personal value, integrity and respect be created? 4. Feeling – the management of feeling or emotion in the group. How shall emotions within the group be managed? 5. Structuring – what methods of learning are to be used. How can the group’s learning experiences be structured? 6. Valuing – the creation of a supportive climate that values the worth of individuals. How can a climate of personal value, integrity and respect be created?

SIX HONEST SERVING MEN I keep six honest serving men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who. I send them over land and sea, I send them east and west; But after they have worked for me, I give them all a rest. I let them rest from nine till five, For I am busy then, As well as breakfast, lunch and tea, For they are hungry men. But different folks have different views; I know a person small - She keeps ten million serving men, Who get no rest at all! She sends them abroad on her own affairs, From the second she opens her eyes - One million Hows, two million Wheres, And seven million Whys! Rudyard Kipling - The Elephant’s Story What? Why? When? How? Where? Who? GEx

Facilitation Questions Can we stop for a moment and check how we are doing?Can we stop for a moment and check how we are doing? How do you feel about what is going on?How do you feel about what is going on? How helpful was that comment?How helpful was that comment? Perhaps it would be more helpful to turn that comment into a question?Perhaps it would be more helpful to turn that comment into a question? What questions does that raise?What questions does that raise? Which question was most helpful, and why?Which question was most helpful, and why? Why has everyone ignored … statement?Why has everyone ignored … statement?

Facilitation Questions Will you tell us more about?Will you tell us more about? Everyone seems a little tired – shall we take a break for a few moments?Everyone seems a little tired – shall we take a break for a few moments? Is that helpful? In what way?Is that helpful? In what way? Perhaps we should check our ground rules?Perhaps we should check our ground rules? What are we trying to do here?What are we trying to do here? How can we help / move on?How can we help / move on? How can we make this set more effective?How can we make this set more effective? What does that mean?What does that mean?

Handling Questions & Fielding Challenges AcknowledgeClarifyAnswerCheck

When things go off track! Summarise

That which we persist in doing becomes easier… …not that the nature of the task has changed, but our ability to do has increased. Ralph Waldo Emerson