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NOTES ON FACILITATION

Christopher Titmuss

The facilitator develops:

• leadership skills
• capacity to take responsibility
• confidence
• the power to listen
• ability to reflect back
• capacity to summarise opinions
• skills to resolve conflict
• ability to stay open minded to diversity
• the means to point the way to deeper truths

Please bear in mind the general procedure for Facilitation. When three or four people have arrived for the small group meeting, the facilitator should get underway – to encourage others to come – rather than wait around waiting. The facilitator invites the reporter. The facilitator gives a brief summary of what is going to be discussed and the time available. “We are going to discuss ..... and....” There is a minutes silence to reflect on the theme. At the end of the small group meeting, there is a minute’s silence. The facilitator invites the group to give three minutes feedback to the facilitator. It is his or her task only to listen!

1. FACILITATION
2. REPORTING
3. INNER CIRCLE
4. INQUIRY
5. TEACHINGS

1. Here is a list of points to bear in mind

THE FACILITATOR

• supports everybody without exception
• endeavors to bring out the deepest understanding, concerns and experiences of the group
• ensures that everybody has an equal chance to speak
• helps to clarify particular points if half-expressed, exaggerated or if too many words are used
• works to take an inclusive outlook rather than rigid position
• draws the insights out of a person
• gives summary, if needed, during session
• encourages quiet people to speak up
• states what is in common and acknowledge differences
• feel free to state one’s view (everybody has a taste of the truth!)
• keeps a track of the theme as stated at the beginning
• checks out views of others if a person adopts an unusual position
• gives three minutes to bring to closure
• allows three minutes for feedback from group.

2. REPORTING

The reporter uses pen and paper and reports back to everybody in the Dharma Hall. The time for the summary is precisely three minutes. It is not necessary to mention anybody’s name in the report. There are three ways to report back. The reporter decides the way he or she wants to report.

a. The reporter takes notes of various points made and gives an overall summary.
b. The reporter gives a personal perception and commentary on specific points.
c. Shares with the full group three or four major points rather than try to cover too many.

3. INNER CIRCLE

Four or five volunteer enter the inner circle in the middle of the hall. The rest of the group sits around the fishbowl in silence. The one in the fishbowl shares their understanding with another in the fishbowl. When one person is talking in the fishbowl, others stay. When a person has finished speaking in the fishbowl he or she can leave – assuming there are no further questions to that person. If questions, the speaker in the fishbowl must stay to hear the response. An ongoing exchange can take place. There should always be two people in the fishbowl before one speaks. In free time, participants can give their responses to those in the fishbowl.

4. INQUIRY

The purpose of the Inquiry is to help reveal what is ‘beyond’ the empty world of ego, self and various forms of clinging. The procedure: To invite anyone to come to speak. The person shares his or her experiences. Dialogue gets underway with the use of questions that attend to the person’s concern while quietly probing deeper. No method or technique is involved. It is a matter of listening and responding wisely with questions or answers. If a person brings out a deeper truth, then to confirm it, and to see if the inquirer is clear about what he or she said. At any time the Inquiry can come to end with a thank-you. There is a period of two or three minutes of silence before another person is invited to come to speak. An Inquiry may last five minutes or 45 minutes.

5. TEACHING

Four participants give a Dharma teaching. The total time for the teaching is 50 minutes. The participant decides how much of this time he or she gives for teaching and how much he or she keeps for questions and answers.

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