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FACILITATING A GROUP
Facilitator basics
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The facilitator is not the group leader or expert. S/he is not expected to have more insight or knowledge than other members and is not to instruct or counsel the group.
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Facilitators are responsible to help the group meet its objective.
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Facilitators work to keep everyone involved in the discussion.
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Facilitators help the group establish ground rules.
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Facilitators must recognize that members of a group have different life experiences, are different “types” (Myers/Briggs or Enneagram) and are at a different place in their faith journey.
- Facilitators support and confirm the contributions of the members of the group to show their contribution is valued and respected.
Group troubleshooting
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Keep the members on topic. If someone strays, bring him/her back: “Let’s look at the topic again to see if we are really getting to the heart of the matter.”
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When participants focus their questions and responses on you rather than the whole group, redirect them by looking at others and engaging other participants in the dialogue.
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Find positive ways to affirm a dominator while helping him/her control their overly enthusiastic sharing. You might say, “That’s very true” or “You’ve really thought about that, but let’s continue and listen to what others have to say.”
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If appropriate, you might wait until after a meeting to speak with those who are regularly dominating the group, “You have so much to share and offer the group. Your ideas are very interesting, but I think you might be overpowering some of the other members with your enthusiasm. Maybe if you hold back a bit, someone else might speak more freely.”
- Paraphrase and summarize to demonstrate careful listening and concern. Summarizing some of the main ideas expressed up to the present can redirect the group when it gets bogged down and can also serve as an effective conclusion to the discussion.
Helpful Hints on what to avoid
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Don’t ask for responses from each member in sequence.
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Don’t comment on each response.
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Don’t fear silence.
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Don’t try to answer every question.
- Don’t feel guilty when your group is less than perfect!
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ICEBREAKERS AND CONVERSATION HELPERS
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What does this have to do with your life?
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So, what are you hearing?
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So, that raises questions...
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What do you think?
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Does that make sense to you?
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Have you ever experienced that in your life?
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I'm just throwing this in the mix...
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Scholars will say...
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Thank you for sharing that, it's a real vulnerability.
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You are naming a reality that this reading calls to your mind.
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The great thing is you were conscious of it.
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What would you want to pray for, to ask God for?
God, continue to form us as you open
the places in our lives that need you.
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