The Skilled Facilitator: A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants, Facilitators, Managers, Trainers, and Coaches

432 Pages·2002·1.04 MB·English

by  Roger Schwarz

The Skilled Facilitator
A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants,
Facilitators, Managers, Trainers,
and Coaches
New and Revised
Roger Schwarz

“Schwarzshowsushowtobecomemoretransparentinourworkwithclients
inawaythatbuildsclienteffectiveness.”
—MaryBethO’Neill,consultant,coach,andauthorofExecutiveCoaching
withBackboneandHeart
“RogerSchwarzhaswrittentheperfectbooktotransformmediatorsintoskilled
facilitators.Itisallhere:thetheory,thepracticalsuggestions,theguidelines,
theanalysisofgroups.Theonlythingbetterthanthisbookisthebookandthe
workshop.”
—ZenaD.Zumeta,president,MediationTraining&Consultation
Institute/TheCollaborativeWorkplace
“Thebookarmsyounotonlywithskillsfortheworkplacebutwithskillsfor
life.AtConoco,Roger’sapproachhashadasignificantimpactonourbusiness
andfunctionalleaders—it’sfarmorethanaguideforfacilitators.”
—DavidNelson,manager,organizationdevelopment
andConocoUniversity,Conoco,Inc.
“Everygroupfacilitatorshouldbegroundedinthevalues,assumptions,and
principlesunderlyingthepracticeofgroupfacilitation.Thankfully,inThe
SkilledFacilitator,RogerSchwarzaddressesthesemattersthoughtfully,coher-
ently,andmorecomprehensivelythaninanyotherbookforgroupfacilitators.”
—SandorP.Schuman,editor,GroupFacilitation:AResearch
andApplicationsJournal,andmoderator,TheElectronic
DiscussiononGroupFacilitation
“Asanewentrytothefacilitationfield,Iwantedtofindoutwhattheindustry
thoughtwasthebestresourceforcombiningtheorywiththepracticesoffacili-
tation.Isubmittedmyrequesttothelargestonlinediscussionforumforactive,
professionalfacilitators.RogerSchwarz’sbookTheSkilledFacilitatorwasbyfar
thefavoritechoiceofpeopleintheprofession.Iamorderingmy copynow!”
—MalcolmDell,formerexecutivecoordinator,
Woodnet DevelopmentCouncil,Inc.
“Theexpanded,revisededitionprovidesnew,innovativeapproachesand
insightsnotonlytoprofessionalfacilitatorsbutalsotothosewhowanttouse
facilitationskillstobeeffectiveleaders,consultants,orcoaches.Rogermakes
facilitationskillsandtechniquesunderstandableandusable.Theseskillsare
particularlyimportantinlabor-managementrelationsandothersettingsin
whichleadersmustgeneratecommitmentratherthancomplianceand
wheremutualunderstandingiscriticaltoproductive relationships.”
—RobertTobias,formerpresident,NationalTreasuryEmployeesUnion,and
professorofpublicadministration,AmericanUniversity
“PeoplewithgroupandteamexpertiseoftenreferredtoRogerSchwarz’sfirst
editionofTheSkilledFacilitatoras‘thefacilitators’bible.’Theenhancedrevised
editionwilleasilyretainthattitle.Themillionswhohavetocopewithineffec-
tivemeetingsonadailybasiswouldbewisetoquicklyacquireandabsorbthe
keypoints.Merelyusingthelistofbehavioralgroundruleswouldsoenhance
theeffectivenessoftheirmeetingprocessthatitwouldpayforthebookmany
timesover.Usingtherestoftheideasinthebookwouldgeneratesignificant
bottom-linereturnthroughswifter,higher-quality,moreeasilyimplemented
decisionsatalllevelsoftheorganization.”
—MichaelM.Beyerlein,director,CenterfortheStudyof WorkTeams,
andprofessorofindustrial/organizational psychology,
UniversityofNorthTexas
“Roger Schwarz’s approach goes far beyond the typical techniques and
strategies to focus on core values that enable multiple parties with different
perspectives to work together effectively. As part of the most comprehensive
and long-standing education reform agenda in the country, which includes
business leaders, school board members, school council members, parents,
students, and state-level policymakers, thirty-five high-level leaders in Ken-
tucky have received training in using facilitative skills as leaders. They report
that they work more effectively because of the Skilled Facilitator framework.”
—CarolynWittJones,executivedirector,
Partnership forKentuckySchools
The Skilled Facilitator
A Comprehensive Resource for Consultants,
Facilitators, Managers, Trainers,
and Coaches
New and Revised
Roger Schwarz
Copyright © 2002 by Roger Schwarz.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schwarz, Roger M., date–
The skilled facilitator: a comprehensive resource for consultants, facilitators,
managers, trainers, and coaches / Roger Schwarz.—New and rev. ed.
p. cm.—(The Jossey-Bass business & management series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7879-4723-7 (hardcover: alk. paper)
1. Communication in management. 2. Communication in personnel
management. 3. Group facilitation. 4. Teams in the workplace.
5. Conflict management. I. Title. II. Series.
HD30.3.S373 2002
658.4(cid:1)036—dc21 2002007934
SECOND EDITION
HB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The Jossey-Bass
Business & Management Series
To Kathleen, Noah, and Hannah,
with whom I learn about compassion . . .
and who bring so much to my life
CONTENTS
Preface to the Revised Edition ix
Acknowledgments xvii
The Author xxi
PART ONE: HOW FACILITATION HELPS GROUPS
1 The Skilled Facilitator Approach 3
2 What Makes Work Groups Effective? 17
3 The Facilitator and Other Facilitative Roles 40
PART TWO: DIAGNOSING BEHAVIOR IN GROUPS
4 Understanding the Theories That Guide Our Actions 65
5 Ground Rules for Effective Groups 96
6 Diagnosing Behaviors That Enhance or Hinder Group
Effectiveness 136
vii