M1 - Learner Manual

7.15. Engaging Facilitation Skills

DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP

            Letting the group know who’s in charge

Demonstrating leadership clearly identifies who will serve as the group leader and allows group members to know that someone is in charge who will provide guidance, support, and structure for the group. In many group settings, demonstrating leadership makes participants feel more comfortable, particularly when combined with an overview of the flow of the meeting or activity.

CREATING AN OPEN ENVIRONMENT

            Inviting people of be a part of the group

A primary task of a group leader is to welcome new members to the group and make them feel included. A facilitator needs to ensure that each member of the group is welcomed and feels that they will be a valued participant in the group’s activities. If a group member has a perception that everyone in the group knows the “secret handshake” and they are being excluded because they are not “in the know,” they will feel like an outsider and may be reluctant to participate.  A facilitator also must be aware of cultural differences between group members and actively work towards helping all members feel safe within the context of the group setting. 

ENCOURAGING CONNECTIONS

            Helping people get acquainted and connected

In order to feel connected to a group, participants need to get to know one another and see what they have in common. Each of us bring distinct backgrounds, interests, and values with us and will feel more comfortable in groups if we encounter similar others. In order to feel connected to a group, members need to get to know one another and see what they have in common. Unfortunately, similarities are not always readily apparent and part of group facilitation is making it easier for similar people in a group to find each other and to share their common ground in a way that helps them feel invested in the group.

BUILDING GROUP RAPPORT

Facilitating a sense of teamwork and unity

One of the challenges of being a group facilitator is creating camaraderie and good will within the group. As a result, a leader must encourage positive interactions that make the participants feel good about being part of the group. If each group member feels connected to only one other, a facilitator has succeeded at encouraging connections but has not yet built group rapport. Group rapport goes beyond individual social contact to create a bond between each member and the group as a whole.

DEFINING GROUP IDENTITY

Establishing the group purpose and personality

Every group has an identity and an atmosphere. A facilitator can set the tone for defining what the group is all about and what it will feel like to be a participant. Most individuals would only want to join a group if they knew the purpose of the group and what it would feel like to be involved. As a result, a key component of group identify is guiding the group in the establishment of a sense of purpose. At the same time, the facilitator needs to foster a “feel” or personality for the group that can be as important a part of its identify as its name or mission statement.