Facilitating "Do's" and "Don'ts"

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Brief, practical tips for directing a small-group discussion

Mike Shepherd | posted 3/10/2003

Topics:	Bible study, Discussion, Facilitator, Questions, Teaching
Filters:	Facilitator, Group Leader, Lead, Teacher
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	John 16:13
Date Added:	March 10, 2003

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Are you a good facilitator of small group experience? Do you lecture too much…or let people interact too much? Is truth being taught or is it shared ignorance? How do we balance teaching and group interaction in small group experiences? Here are some suggestions you might consider.

Do help people discover truth.
Do stress application.
Do help everyone participate.
Do ask good open questions.
Do keep discussion on track.
Do encourage participatory learning.
Do model a depth of sharing.
Do create a safe place for discussion.

Don't lecture about the truth.
Don't center on facts alone.
Don't dominate the Bible study time.
Don't answer all of the questions yourself.
Don't discourage discussion.
Don't give all the answers.
Don't stay with information & content alone.
Don't allow criticism, the emphasis of wrong answers, unsolicited advice.

Effective facilitators of small group experiences will:

Encourage everyone to participate.
Pay attention to body language-90% of communication is nonverbal.
Make clear what group members are saying.
Manage conflict as it arises.
Be loyal to the small group process and manage it.
Not be the answer person and listen to others share.
Follow the Leader and curriculum.
Open up and share intimately.
Help create a safe place for others to take off their masks.
Make application to Life Change.

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user reviews

Average User Rating:

Jim Wright(Registered User)

August 17, 2009 11:05am

Very good article. Brief, concise, and easy to use in a leadership training setting.

Liza

April 09, 2009 8:37pm

These are wonderful suggestions - There is a great difference between being a "teacher" and a "facilitator" and it's important that everyone is on the same page. Our church has a facilitator guidebook and tries to make sure that facilitators are connected. I think another important point is that when there are times we must admit not to know an answer - whether it's spiritual, theological, or practical - we also should make sure to follow up with a proper resource or person and then make an effort to pass the answer (if there is one) along to the group. Listening and follow-through are so important in establishing trust.

Denise Moore(Registered User)