Product Description

When it was published in 1994, Roger Schwarz′s The Skilled Facilitator earned widespread critical acclaim and became a landmark in the field. The book is a classic work for consultants, facilitators, managers, leaders, trainers, and coaches––anyone whose role is to facilitate and guide groups toward realizing their creative and problem–solving potential. This thoroughly revised edition provides the essential materials for anyone that works within the field of facilitation and includes simple but effective ground rules for group interaction. Filled with illustrative examples, the book contains proven techniques for starting meetings on the right foot and ending them positively and decisively. This important resource also offers practical methods for handling emotions when they arise in a group and offers a diagnostic approach for identifying and solving problems that can undermine the group process.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48097 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 432 pages

Review
"The Skilled Facilitator is an invaluable text and should be required reading for all who aspire to excellence in facilitation." (Training Media Review, June 26, 2003)

Review
"The Skilled Facilitator is an invaluable text and should be required reading for all who aspire to excellence in facilitation." (Training Media Review, June 26, 2003)

From the Inside Flap
When it was published in 1994, Roger Schwarz′s The Skilled Facilitator earned widespread critical acclaim and became a landmark in the field. The book is a classic work for consultants, facilitators, managers, leaders, trainers, and coaches––anyone whose role is to guide groups toward realizing their creative and problem–solving potential.
This thoroughly revised edition provides the essential materials for facilitators and includes simple but effective ground rules for group interaction. Filled with illustrative examples, the book contains proven techniques for starting meetings on the right foot and ending them positively and decisively. This important resource also offers practical methods for handling emotions when they arise in a group and offers a diagnostic approach for identifying and solving problems that can undermine the group process.
Based on Schwarz′s practical experience working in the field and the feedback he has received in his dynamic workshops, this revised edition is easier to use and much more accessible. Grounded in the latest thinking on teams, organization development, and facilitation, this new edition

• Takes a more conversational approach
• Offers a clear analysis of the Skilled Facilitator approach, based on a set of core values, assumptions, and principles
• Defines the five facilitative roles––facilitator, leader, coach, consultant, and trainer
• Shows how groups can act inconsistently with ground rules and what to do to intervene
• Describes the theories that guide a facilitator′s actions

The Skilled Facilitator also includes practical advice on how to work with outside consultants and how to facilitate groups within one′s own organization, along with a groundbreaking section on facilitative leadership.

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Customer Reviews

The bible for facilitators and mentors
Schwarz, Roger, M. (1994). The Skilled Facilitator, San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass Inc.,Publishers.

C.E.Vajko (c.ernie@worldnet.att.net) March 14, 1999.

The author integrates the theory and practice of group facilitation in a simple and structured sequence. A work that could serve both the practitioner and the practical scholar. The book includes examples of how to and how not to apply the principles of practice in a mentorship program. It includes examples of effective and ineffective facilitation. The examples of actual dialogue given by the author give the reader an excellent insight to how some facilitators intervene. Step by step instructions for group facilitation, and resources that can be used effectively between facilitator and client are given. The book is strong in group facilitation principles to improve problem solving and decision making.

Managers of group and/or organizations, group consultants, facilitators, or those that want to become facilitators or organization development consultants could benefit from this book. Basically this book is for anyone that wants to improve their professional effectiveness in any field.

The book addresses an area that is important for mentors as well as facilitators working with large groups of people. Communication, conflict management, problem solving, decision making, boundary management, motivating task, clear goals, are just a few of the areas that are covered. I found this book delivers what it promises. I give it a 5 star.

Excellent all purpose book
I used this for a facilitation course and found it an excellent reference, a 'bible' for facilitation.