What is group facilitation?

Group facilitation is about "helping make possible the purpose of the group, using collaborative processes" -(Groupwork Centre).  

An experienced facilitator's role is to ensure the group hear each other, come to understandings, pool their wisdom, make wise decisions, and achieve their purpose.  Facilitators are compared to the conductor of an orchestra - they ensure that all players are heard, we  strive for harmony, and keep to time!

Groups come in many different shapes and sizes - task groups (work teams, committees, boards of directors), mutual support groups (cancer support groups, people facing common life challenges), common interest groups (craft groups, book groups).  One thing that successful groups have in common is they have experienced facilitators who help guide them to achieving their purpose.

My roles as facilitator includes:

• Identifying and linking common themes - this helps prevent the group discussion going in circles
• Clarifying confusing statements - helping people clarify their thinking
• Summarise and organise ideas - this helps the group know where they are up to on an issue, and where to go next
• Decision identification - recognising when the group is ready to make a decision, again preventing the group going in circles
• Testing for agreement - looking for agreement around decisions, ensuring that everyone in the group has been heard and is ready to make an agreement on an issue
• Keeping the group on track - ensuring the group does not get side tracked, and if they do seek agreement from the group to explore the side track
• Ensuring participation from everyone - this ensures we get all the wisdom from the group
• Keeping an eye on the time - making sure the groups sticks to time