Facilitating a Small Group, Part 2:
Leading the Small Group Discussion

In Part 1 of "Facilitating a Small Group," we outlined ways you can prepare to engage the women in your church in a small group discussion or study. Now comes the meat of the topic: How do you lead the small group discussion? The following are hints for actually facilitating the discussion:

Leading the First Session

1. Greet members individually as they arrive. Catch up on personal news.

2. Allow members to choose their own seats. This small but important detail ensures members will feel comfortable in the group.

3. Establish the Bible as your authority. As the facilitator of a group, the Bible is the group's authority and the Holy Spirit is the Teacher.

4. Define the purpose of the group. Whether a prayer group, Bible study group, support group or another type of group, participants need clear guidelines as to why you are meeting. Some women will turn a Bible study into a prayer group or vice versa unless you as leader remain true to your purpose and intervene.

5. Establish and clarify expectations. Members have certain expectations for one another and for the facilitator as they journey together. Discuss the following expectations during your first group session:

• Privacy. Many groups practice a confidentiality covenant that states that information shared within the group is respected as confidential and not shared outside the group. A good rule of thumb is never tell someone else's story.
  
• Starting and ending times. Keeping commitments is critical if you as facilitator wish to gain the confidence of group members. Starting and ending the session on time is a key commitment. Here are a few suggestions for approaching a group member who is habitually late:
  
  (a) Pull her aside and talk in a friendly, nonconfrontive manner.
  (b) Without making her feel guilty, explain the distraction of late arrivers.
  (c) Determine the reason she is constantly late.
  (d) Adjust the starting time if possible and convenient.
  (e) Demonstrate concern and a Christlike attitude.
  
• Attendance. Regular attendance is important not only to individual learning, but also to group members who depend on one another for support, encouragement, and good ideas.
  
• Homework. Curriculum groups (book studies) are planned on the assumption that members have read the material and completed the exercises and activities prior to the group meeting. During each group session members are asked to share, on a voluntary basis, their responses to the learning activities. Members benefit from comparing what they have learned between sessions with the responses of others in the group. If some in the group have not completed the activities, they become "takers" and not "givers" to the group. In addition, they will be unprepared to share their own feelings with the group. As facilitator, model the expectation by completing all the assignments yourself. Be prepared to talk with individuals outside the session if it becomes obvious assignments are not being completed.
  
• Voluntary participation. Emphasize that you will not ask anyone to share personal information. Encourage members to share their feelings, attitudes, insights, and experiences as they feel comfortable to do so. Trust the group process. Members are capable of contributing to the group. Encourage members to talk directly to one another rather than through you.

6. Explain the small-group process. Review the format you will use for each session so that members know what to expect. If you are using a curriculum, clarify the connection between homework assignments from the study materials and their use in the group sessions. Teach members how to use the study materials.

7. Provide structure to the group.

• Guide discussion (or prayer);
• guide them through any obstacles (members who monopolize, members in crisis, etc.);
• make assignments for the next session (when appropriate) and
  draw discussion to a close.

Do not hesitate to influence the discussion when things are headed off track. You might say: "This is a very interesting discussion, but I think we've strayed from our original topic. Maybe we could discuss this topic another time."

8. Be flexible. As facilitator, be prepared to change or rearrange your lesson plan in order to maximize what may be happening with members as they experience the group. At times you may need to discard your plans to meet members' needs and interests.

9. Close the group by reaffirming a pertinent truth or fact. Leave the group with one important truth or idea for application. Let the group know you are available even though the group meeting is coming to a close.

General Discussion Tips

1. Avoid dominating and controlling the group. The facilitator's role is to draw out other people and encourage them to share. The optimal group situation is one in which members address one another directly with pertinent questions and feedback.
Share your own opinions and feelings to stimulate discussion when others are reluctant. You will be modeling the role. When discussion is free-flowing, wait until others have shared and adequate time remains for your comments.

2. Encourage group participation. If only a few women respond, say, "Let's hear from some of you who have not yet had the opportunity to share." Eye contact can encourage members to talk (but do not stare). If you sense that a group member truly would like to share but is hesitant, ask her. "Trudy, I sense that you would like to share. Is that the case?" Refrain from putting anyone on the spot by calling on them by name. "Suzanne, what do you think?" rarely endears you to that person! A silent person may be listening and receiving, but unable to verbalize her ideas at that point.

3. Ask simple and clear questions. Is your question complicated or confusing? Can it be easily understood and remembered? Ask one question at a time. Asking two questions at once confuses the issue and one or both questions may not be properly addressed.

Some questions can be answered with a yes or no, some with only a few words. Closed-questions have an accepted answer and thus inhibit free discussion. Open-ended questions often begin with the words what, how, or why. They allow group members to respond with feelings and ideas that are important to them (for example, "What do you think about ... ?" or "How do you feel about ... ?"). Open-ended questions challenge group members to think and avoid a bias.

4. Deal with difficult questions honestly. Be willing to say: "I don't know. Does anyone else have input?" Admit your own humanity and imperfections. Members are more likely to share with a fellow struggler than with someone who gives the impression she knows all the answers. If the answer can be found, ask someone to look it up before the next session or offer to do so yourself.

5. Keep discussion Bible-centered. Members may disagree on a particular interpretation. It's OK to say, "Here's what I believe." "We may agree to disagree." But as facilitator, don't let "anything go." Refer back to the Scripture or to comments made by the study leader.

6. If you allow tangents, make them work for you. At times, tangents (something off the target of the study) can be good. Watch group members closely, making eye contact, to determine if the tangent seems to be a common concern. If a tangent motivates participation, good! Monitor the time involved and, if necessary, redirect the conversation at the appropriate time.

7. Take advantage of silence. When waiting for a response, 10 seconds can feel like 10 minutes to the facilitator. But group members may not feel the same. A good question requires time to think and respond. Facilitators who are uncomfortable with silence may have a tendency to provide the answer or ask another question. Refrain from answering your own question. A few silent moments allows the group time for insight and thought. However, if prolonged, silence may indicate participants do not understand the question. After a reasonable time, use a different approach and restate the question.

8. Don't force conversation. If group members have sufficiently discussed the relevant issues, conclude the group or go on to the next topic.

9. Don't allow a particularly verbal person to monopolize group discussion. Most small groups include at least one member who talks more than the others. Although not intending to offend, she may at times be inappropriate and disruptive. When asking a question or waiting for a response, avoid making eye contact with this person. Make eye contact with others instead.

Ask for new opinions. Say something like: "Some of us have contributed many ideas. Let's allow some other group members to share." Appreciate the individual who is dominating and move to someone else. In extreme cases, you may have to speak privately with the "monopolizer." Ask for her cooperation in getting others to participate.

Read Faciltiating a Small Group, Part 1: Preparing to Lead a Small Group.