Small Group Facilitation: Improving Process and Performance in Groups and Teams

Facilitator Preferences

I remember once commenting to a friend as we were leaving a community group meeting that the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. My friend said, “What tension? I didn’t notice any tension.” Subsequent reports in the press confirmed that there was considerable discord in this group, so I probably was right about the tension, but I’ve always remembered the disconnect between these two interpretations of the same meeting. Most likely my interpretation was influenced by observed nonverbal communication since strident words are generally noticed and remembered by everyone present. Also, I work with groups and am used to reading a room. This means noticing facial expressions, body tension, pauses that go on too ...