Page 349 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

Nominal group process may be thought of as a type of silent brainstorming at first.12 This method requires
group members to work alone for a short period of time, generating their ideas without group interruption. In
the second step, each member reads one idea in round-robin fashion without discussion until all ideas are
recorded on a flip chart. In the third step, members work as a group and ideas are discussed and clarified
without evaluation. In the final step, members vote independently to prioritize the list.1,13 This method has an
advantage for those who have difficulty organizing their thoughts during the fast moving discussion of
brainstorming and for those who do not share ideas or solutions readily.

Focus Groups

Focus groups are another creative technique. They are a qualitative approach for eliciting the perceptions of a
defined group of 5 to 15 people. Participants are selected according to their knowledge of the subject. In an
hour or longer session, a facilitator can assist in finding answers to problems, issues, topics, and solutions. To
obtain specific information, the topic or issue is introduced by the facilitator who has compiled a list of open-
ended questions to pose to the group for their exploration. With signed consent forms, the discussion may be
recorded so that it may be replayed or transcribed for analysis.1

Meetings as a Function of Group Dynamics

For most of us, meetings are an inescapable fact of life. They require the collaboration of members and the use
of effective communication skills, such as listening and interpreting verbal and nonverbal behaviors. Most
meetings are designed to share information, to discuss information, or to take action as a group.18,19 Yet,
attending meetings can be a negative experience. Common complaints are that the meeting did not start on
time, people did not stay on the subject or were unprepared and did not contribute, or the meeting went on
too long and nothing was accomplished.

The remedy for these complaints lies in many of the group communication skills that have been discussed
and starts with a clear written agenda. The leader or facilitator is responsible for setting the goals for the
meeting, keeping to the meeting time constraints, guiding the group participants to stay focused on the
agenda, and ending with a clear plan of action for participants.

The leader uses group facilitation skills to empower members to contribute, to manage any conflict, and
promote group cohesiveness or change as appropriate.15,18,19

When meetings involve persons who do not know one another, the facilitator should allow time for group
members to introduce themselves or send biographical information in advance. An individual’s tone of voice,
dress, diction, and manner provide valuable clues to his or her character. Often, negative inferences disappear
after the other’s voice is heard and some information regarding the person’s background is offered.

Group members may need to receive the agenda and advance information if they are expected to discuss an
unfamiliar topic. Most meetings require some form of documentation: someone to take and distribute minutes
of the meeting, audio or video recording of the meeting for later transcription and dissemination, or informal
meeting summary points on a dry-erase board or projected digital tablet screen. This documentation will also
help define the plan of action for the participants to build upon for subsequent meetings.

The facilitator’s most important role is to keep the meeting focused on the agenda, but all group members
should consider this responsibility their own as well.18,19 Members should note whether or not everyone is

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