Ten Facilitator Tips

2010, April 1st

Issue 9

Discussion

1. Jason Simon

   2010, April 9th, 2:08:00 am

   Following is from the appendix of our Connections series of small group discussion guides. I thought it would be helpful:

   Perhaps no skill is more important to the success of your small group than the ability to facilitate a discussion according to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Such an approach recognizes the prominence of God’s sanctifying Spirit in the spiritual journey, not necessarily our knowledge or theological acumen. The following guidelines can help facilitators avoid some of the common pitfalls of small group discussion, and open the door for the Spirit to take the lead in the “connection” we seek with Jesus Christ.

   You are a Facilitator, NOT a Teacher

   It can be incredibly tempting to answer every question as a facilitator. You may have excellent answers and be excited about sharing them with your brothers and sisters in Christ. However, a more Socratic method, by which you attempt to draw answers from participants, is much more fruitful in the long run. Get in the habit of reflecting participants’ questions to the whole group before offering your own input. It is not necessary for you as a facilitator to immediately enter into the discussion or offer a magisterial answer. Matter of fact, when others have sufficiently addressed an issue, try to exercise restraint in your comments. Simply affirm what has been said, thank them, and move on. If you don’t know the answer to a given question, have a participant look it up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and have them read it aloud to the group. If you cannot find an answer, ask someone to research the question and bring their discoveries to the next session. Finally, never feel embarrassed to say, “I don’t know.” Simply acknowledge the quality of the question and offer to follow up with that person after some digging. Remember, you are a facilitator, not a teacher.

   Affirm and Encourage

   We are more likely to repeat a behavior when it is openly encouraged. If you want to encourage more active participation and sharing, give positive affirmation to group members’ responses. This is especially important if people are sharing from their heart. A simple “thank you for sharing that” can go a long way in encouraging further discussion in your small group. If someone has offered a theologically questionable response, don’t be nervous or combative. Wait until others have offered their input. It is very likely that someone will offer a more helpful
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   response, after which you can affirm them by saying something like, “That is the typical Christian perspective on that topic. Thank you.” If no acceptable response is given, and you know the answer, exercise great care and respect in your comments so as not to appear smug or self-righteous. You might begin with something like, “Those are all interesting perspectives. What the Church has said about this is. . .”

   Avoid Unhelpful Tangents

   There is nothing that can derail a Spirit-filled discussion more quickly than digressing into unnecessary tangents. Try to keep the session on track. If the group gets off on a tangent, ask yourself, “Is this a Spirit-guided tangent?” If not, bring the group back by asking a question that steers conversation back to center. You may even have to suggest kindly, “Have we gotten a little off topic?” Most participants will respond positively and redirect according to your sensitive leading. That being said, some tangents may be worth pursuing if you sense the action of the Spirit. It may be exactly where God wants to steer the discussion. You’ll find that taking risks can yield some beautiful results.

   Fear NOT the Silence

   Be okay with silence. Most people need a moment or two to muster up a response to a question. It is quite natural to need some time to formulate our thoughts and put them into words. Some may need a moment just to conjure up the courage to speak at all. Regardless of the reason, do not be afraid of a brief moment of silence after asking a question. Let everyone in the group know early on that silence is an integral part of normal discussion, and that they shouldn’t worry or be uncomfortable when it happens. This applies to times of prayer as well. If no one shares or prays after a sufficient amount of time, just move on gracefully.

   The Power of Hospitality

   It is amazing how far a little hospitality can go. Everybody likes to be cared for and this is especially true in a small group whose purpose is to
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   connect to Jesus Christ, our model for care, support, and compassion. Make a point to greet people personally when they first arrive. Ask them how their day was. Take some time to invest in the lives of your small group participants. Work at remembering each person’s name. Help everyone feel comfortable and at home. Allow your small group to be an environment where authentic relationships take shape and blossom.

   Encourage Participation

   Help everyone to get involved, especially those who are naturally less vocal or outgoing. A good way to encourage participation initially is to always invite participants to read the selected readings aloud. Down the road, even after the majority of the group feels comfortable sharing, you’ll still have some quieter members who may not always volunteer a response to a question but would be happy to read.

   Meteorology?

   Keep an eye on what we call the “Holy Spirit barometer.” Is the discussion pleasing to the Holy Spirit? Is this conversation leading participants to a deeper personal connection to Jesus Christ? The intellectual aspects of our faith are certainly important to discuss, but conversation can sometimes degenerate into an unedifying showcase of intellect and ego. Discussion can sometimes take a negative turn and become a venue for gossip, complaining, or even slander. You can almost feel the Holy Spirit leave the room when this happens! If you are aware that this dynamic has taken over a particular discussion, take a moment to pray quietly in your heart, asking the Holy Spirit to help you bring it back around. This can often be achieved simply by moving on to the next question.

   Pace

   Generally, you want to pace the study to finish in the allotted time, but sometimes this may be impossible without sacrificing quality discussion. If you reach the end of your meeting and find you have only
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   covered half the material, don’t fret! This is often the result of lively Spirit-filled discussion and meaningful theological reflection. In this case you may want to take another meeting to cover the remainder of the material. If you only have a small portion left, you can ask participants to finish it on their own and to come to the following meeting with any questions or insights they have. Even if you have to skip a section to end on time, make sure you leave adequate time for prayer and to review the “Connecting to Christ This Week” section. This is vital in helping participants integrate their discoveries from the group into their daily lives.

   Joy

   Remember that seeking the face of the Lord is a joyful process! There is nothing more fulfilling, more illuminating, and more beautiful than to foster a deep and enduring relationship with Jesus Christ. Embrace your participants and the entire spiritual journey with a spirit of joyful anticipation of what God wants to accomplish

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