Issue
26(2)
The
Secrets of Facilitation: The S.M.A.R.T. Guide to Getting Results
with Groups.
(2004). Michael Wilkinson. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 320 pp.,
$40.00 (hardback) ISBN # 0-7879-7578-8.
Review
by: Cathy
Kennemer, Academic Advisor
College
of Human
Environmental Sciences
Oklahoma
State University - Tulsa
Anyone
who has ever attempted to facilitate a group through the process
of reaching a consensus has quickly discovered that facilitation
is no small or easy task. Advising administrators and advisors
alike may be called upon to facilitate groups in order to resolve
workplace issues, to determine the most effective office procedures,
or perhaps facilitate professional organization change. Michael
Wilkinson presents each step of the facilitation process in an
easy to follow step-by-step sequence. Wilkinson's S.M.A.R.T. (
S tructured M eeting
and R elating T echniques)
philosophy is based upon eleven principles of facilitation that
provide both novice and advanced facilitators with techniques
to effectively facilitate groups of all sizes.
Wilkinson
includes case studies at the beginning of each chapter that illustrate
the overall point of the principle discussed. In addition, sample
dialogues enable the reader to examine examples of both good and
bad facilitation techniques. Facilitator checklists, bulleted
summaries of the high points of each chapter, are included. These
checklists help the reader practice the facilitation steps. Wilkinson
masterfully incorporates ways to improve facilitation skills and
teaches that the underlying foundation of effective facilitation
is helping the group reach their desired objectives.
Advisors and
advising administrators seeking to improve their facilitation
skills or those asked to facilitate for the first time will find
this book a useful reference. While this book was not written
specifically for facilitators in educational settings, the techniques
presented are appropriate for anyone who is given the charge to
assist a group reach its objectives.
