Effective Group Facilitation

1. Effective Group Facilitation Chapter 8 Daniel Harris Kay McHeffey Liz Schneblin

2. Putting On Your Oxygen Mask People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes. Abigail Van Buren

3. Self-Protection Negative energy will impact performance. How? • Diminished thinking and problem solving skills • Compromised ability to guide group towards goal

4. How Do You Self-Protect? • Understand your role as a group facilitator. Elements you can control Elements you cannot control • Frame your role with team Establish boundary

5. Use of Positive Presupposition What is it? A communication tool Embedded in the language we use Shaped by voice intonation and inflection Plants a seed to adopt certain attitude Shifts responsibility to participants

6. Use of Positive Presupposition Examples: • “As you think about how you’ll work together to do …” (adopt attitude) • “Share your ideas for…” (adopt attitude) • “How do you see it…” (shift responsibility) • “Let’s work together to…” (shift responsibility)

7. Use of Positive Presupposition Examples:(to build the thinking and problem solving capacities) • “Please explain your thoughts when you…” • “Please replay the most important…” • How did you arrive at the conclusion…?”

8. Effective Gesturing • Keeps group engaged • Maintains proper level of energy • Uses: Emphasize Suggest Prompt

9. Use Of Charts, Papers, and Other Visuals to Deflect Anger • Post ground rules and norms • Place controversial info on a chart • Place suggestions on a chart Visuals help disassociate the negative impacts away from the facilitator.

10. Use Of Positioning in the Room • Standing in front • Standing off to side • Standing in back • Seated with group • Alternate sit and stand Objective: Maximize group energy Protect Facilitator

11. Develop Exit Plan • Use for times when no strategy can get a group back on track • A positive way to stop the process and send people on their way • Ask for permission • Be firm and direct

12. Content Your shared your thoughts… Your main concern is… You said… Emotion This is confusing… The team is frustrated… This is upsetting… Reflect Emotions/ContentsBack to Group

13. Reflect Emotions/ContentsBack to Group The three major points you made… In general…. I see these themes emerging…

14. Summary • Lower level of difficulty • Divide into smaller, effective groups • Constrain time for tasks • Put group into brainstorming activity • Use positive presuppositions • Use suspension of opinion • Reflect group’s thoughts