What to observe in
a group
One way to learn facilitation skills is to observe and analyse what
is happening in one’s group. All of us have spent a good part
of our lives in groups of various sorts, but rarely have we taken
time to stop and observe what is going on in the group, and ask why
the members are behaving the way they are. The following list include
some of the aspects you should pay attention to any group:
1. Content and Process
In any group we will find two main elements:
- Content: what is being said, the matter
under discussion
- Process: what is happening to the group
itself, the way things are being accomplished.
The content may be seen, as the part of an
iceberg out of the water, while the process is the part under
the water, not easily seen but very important and influential. |
2. Issues involved in any group
- Problem of identity and acceptance within
the group. Who am I in this group? Where do I fit in? What
kind of behaviour is acceptable here? Do I belong?
- Problem of goals and needs of
the group. What do I want from the group? Are its goals
consistent with mine? What help have I to offer the group?
- Problem of power, control and influence.
Who is in charge? Who will control what we do? How much
influence will I have?
- Problem of intimacy. How close will
get to each other? How personal will things be? How much
can trust each other?
|
3. Roles or qualities to watch
for in a group
- Leadership – Assuming or representing
authority
- Dependency – Leaning on the leader
or on anyone who represents authority
- Counter-dependency – Resisting
anyone who represents authority
- Pairing – seeking one or more
supporters
- Fighting and controlling – Asserting
personal dominance, attempting to get one’s own way,
to satisfy one’s own needs, regardless of others
- Withdrawing – Taking no part in
the group to escape the sources of an uncomfortable feeling
|
4. Clues to help us observe
- Who talks? For how long? How often?
- Who do people look at when they talk? At the group? At
one person? At the floor?
- How do people speak? What tone of voice?
- Who talks after whom? Any small asides between couples?
- Who interrupts? Do they interrupt the same person constantly?
- What gestures are used?
- How do people sit?
- Any yawns, twiddling of thumbs, gazing out of windows?
|
|
