Facilitation guide for working with groups

Description

This comprehensive facilitation guide contains useful techniques and strategies for working with people to achieve a particular task. The Facilitation Toolkit: A practical guide for working more effectively with people and groups is an extensive resource for designing and implementing a facilitation process. For instance, the guide discusses conducting a SWOT analysis, stakeholder mapping and focus groups.Facilitation is the process of enabling a group of people to complete a task (Westley & Waters, 1988). Effective facilitation is about working with people and helping groups with their interactions and discussion. Facilitation is recognized as an important strategy to help practitioners implement evidence into practice (Dogherty, Harrison & Graham, 2010). A recent review looking at facilitation within research use in nursing practice reveals that facilitation is seen as both an individual role (such as a change agent or catalyst) and a process involving individuals and groups to support evidence-informed practice (Dogherty, Harrison & Graham, 2010). Recognizing that group process problems can occur during the facilitation process, Westley and Waters (1988) provide a useful list of these problems and possible interventions to overcome them.The Facilitation Toolkit contains the following sections:

Section A: Overview

Section B: Designing the process and the experience

Section C: Facilitation processes

Section D: Tips for adding value

Section E: References and resources

Appendix I: Facilitation methodologies

Appendix II: Working with groups

Appendix III: Working with people

Appendix IV: Checklists and templates Index

Steps for Using Method/Tool

The Facilitation Toolkit: A practical guide for working more effectively with people and groups includes the following sections:

Section A: Overview This introductory section provides an overview of facilitation and the importance of having a good design and a clear purpose. It also discusses the characteristics of effective groups and how to use adult learning principles when facilitating.

Section B: Designing the process and the experience This section provides information on designing the process using FORMAT (Flow and Focus; Objective; Results; Methodologies and Techniques; Aids, Facilities and Materials; Timing), and designing the experience to ensure the effective contribution of participants using STEPS (Space; Time; Eventfulness; Product; Style).

Section C: Facilitation processesFacilitation processes are a combination of: the methodology or broad approach used (such as strategic planning); and techniques for specific tasks, such as brainstorming or SWOT analysis. A table on p. 14 illustrates which techniques are useful for different facilitation processes (such as gathering information, planning, reflection or team building).This section also discusses specific facilitation techniques, including information on when, why and how each technique could be used and materials needed. The following facilitation techniques are discussed: opening with purpose expectations ice breakers activities, games, role plays, team building exercises acts of God brainstorming card clustering focus groups focussed discussion—ORID/SAID force field analysis PMI rich pictures Six Thinking Hats SMART filter for indicators stakeholder mapping SWOT voting and ranking review and reflection closing with purpose evaluation

Section D: Tips for adding valueThis section provides helpful tips and techniques for the 'how-to' of facilitation, such as choosing your venue and evaluating your facilitation process. There are tips for: preparation and design the session aids/facilities making your facilitation 'even better'

Section E: References and resources

Appendix I: Facilitation methodologiesThis section provides information on a number of facilitation methodologies, including when, why and how each methodology would be used. Facilitation methodologies discussed include: action learning future search conference meetings LENS workshop participatory (rural) appraisal soft systems methodology strategic planning

Appendix II: Working with groups group effectiveness group development

Appendix III: Working with people valuing difference conflict resolution skills communication and listening skills

Appendix IV: Checklists and templates (including checklists for event/program, venue and transport, and effective facilitation) Index