Page 345 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

Several techniques may be effective. The facilitator may interrupt the participant, commenting that the
point has been understood, and begin immediately to paraphrase concisely so that the participant knows that
he or she has been understood. Usually, this kind of participant stops talking after being paraphrased. Of
course, this process may need to be repeated several times.

A second problem arises with participants who simply enjoy talking and perceive increased status from it.
They do not stop talking after being paraphrased. They may need to be told that short concise statements are
easier to follow, that they should limit the length and number of comments, or that the group is losing the
point from their extensive commentary. The facilitator may need to talk with the person privately.

Encouraging Silent Members

For various reasons, including boredom, indifference, felt superiority, timidity, and insecurity, there are usually
some members who refuse to participate. In some cultures, silence from subordinates or people younger than
the group’s leader is viewed as “respectful.” The facilitator can arouse interest by asking for their opinions of
what a colleague has said. If the silence stems from insecurity, the best approach is to reinforce positively each
attempt at interjection. A smile, a nod, or a comment of appreciation for any expressed opinion is sufficient. If
silent members have their heads down and blank facial expressions, it would be a mistake to force them into
the discussion.

Halting Side Conversation

Generally, the facilitator should not embarrass members who are engaged in private conversations by drawing
attention to them. If the side conversation becomes distracting to others, those engaged in the conversation
might be called by name and asked an easy question. For example, one might say, “John, I would be interested
in your perspective on this issue.”

Discouraging Wisecracks

If someone in the group disrupts with too much humor, the facilitator needs to determine at what point the
humor stops being a tension reliever and starts to interfere with the group’s progress. When the humor is
bringing the focus onto the joker, facilitators need to interrupt, preferably smiling, with a comment such as
“Now let’s get back to business.”

Helping the Group Stay on Topic

When the group seems unable to stick to the agenda and wanders, a device underused by facilitators is a flip
chart to jot down points that have been agreed on as a way to chart the group’s progress. The facilitator can
prod the group on by simply summarizing and writing down the points.

Avoiding Acknowledgment of the Facilitator’s Preferences

Facilitators hinder the group when they praise the ideas they like and belittle those they dislike. It is
important to avoid making comments that may be taken as disapproval, condescension, or sarcasm. Because
facilitators are in a position to reward or punish attendees, group members quickly learn when supervisors
want to be followed and not disagreed with, and that is how they will respond.

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