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

When it was published in 1994, Roger Schwarz's The Skilled Facilitator earned widespread critical acclaim and became a landmark in the field. The book is a classic work for consultants, facilitators, managers, leaders, trainers, and coaches--anyone whose role is to facilitate and guide groups toward realizing their creative and problem-solving potential. This thoroughly revised edition provides the essential materials for anyone that works within the field of facilitation and includes simple but effective ground rules for group interaction. Filled with illustrative examples, the book contains proven techniques for starting meetings on the right foot and ending them positively and decisively. This important resource also offers practical methods for handling emotions when they arise in a group and offers a diagnostic approach for identifying and solving problems that can undermine the group process.

Roger Schwarz is an organizational psychologist and founder and president of Roger Schwarz Associates, Inc. a consulting group that helps organizations use facilitative skills to create fundamental change. He facilitates groups and teaches, consults, coaches, and speaks on facilitation, facilitative leadership, and developing effective work groups. Schwarz is currently working on The Skilled Facilitator Fieldbook, to be published by Jossey-Bass.

"The Skilled Facilitator is an invaluable text and should be required reading for all who aspire to excellence in facilitation." (Training Media Review, June 26, 2003)

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 Group Effectiveness.

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 Other Processes.

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 OWN ORGANIZATION.

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 and Self-Knowledge Instruments.

Resource G: Questions for Cofacilitators.

Resource H: Guidelines for Contracting with Your Manager.

References.

Index.