The Skilled Facilitator

When it was published in 1994, Roger Schwarz's The SkilledFacilitator earned widespread critical acclaim and became alandmark in the field. The book is a classic work for consultants,facilitators, managers, leaders, trainers, and coaches--anyonewhose role is to facilitate and guide groups toward realizing theircreative and problem-solving potential. This thoroughly revisededition provides the essential materials for anyone that workswithin the field of facilitation and includes simple but effectiveground rules for group interaction. Filled with illustrativeexamples, the book contains proven techniques for starting meetingson the right foot and ending them positively and decisively. Thisimportant resource also offers practical methods for handlingemotions when they arise in a group and offers a diagnosticapproach for identifying and solving problems that can underminethe group process.

Preface to the Revised Edition.Acknowledgments.The Author.PART ONE: HOW FACILITATION HELPS GROUPS.1. The Skilled Facilitator Approach.2. What Makes Work Groups Effective?3. The Facilitator and Other Facilitative Roles.PART TWO: DIAGNOSING BEHAVIOR IN GROUPS.4. Understanding the Theories That Guide Our Actions.5. Ground Rules for Effective Groups.6. Diagnosing Behaviors That Enhance or Hinder GroupEffectiveness.PART THREE: INTERVENING IN GROUPS.7. Deciding Whether, How, and Why to Intervene.8. How to Intervene.9. Using the Ground Rules to Intervene.10. Using the Skilled Facilitator Approach with OtherProcesses.11. Beginning and Ending Meetings.12. Dealing with Emotions.PART FOUR: AGREEING TO WORK TOGETHER.13. Contracting: Deciding Whether and How to Work Together.14. Working with Another Facilitator.PART FIVE: USING FACILITATIVE SKILLS IN YOUR OWNORGANIZATION.15. Serving as Facilitator in Your Own Organization.16. The Facilitative Leader.Resource A: Current and Previous Ground Rules.Resource B: Sample Planning Meeting Letter.Resource C: Guidelines for Developing an Effective Contract.Resource D: Sample Agreement for Basic Facilitation.Resource E: Sample Agreement for Developmental Facilitation.Resource F: Guidelines for Using Experiential Exercises andSelf-Knowledge Instruments.Resource G: Questions for Cofacilitators.Resource H: Guidelines for Contracting with Your Manager.References.Index.