Facilitating through the Storm
Let’s face it. Anyone with any amount of facilitation skill can lead a group that is performing well. That’s the good part.
But what about groups perpetually stuck in storming? These groups pose bad and ugly scenarios that must be resolved before the group can perform. In fact, a group stuck in storming can be a facilitator’s worst nightmare (no matter how skilled he or she happens to be).
So what can you, as facilitator do to break through the storm? First, consider the things that you must never do such as: ignoring the problems being put forward by the team, avoiding arguments that are occurring, and telling people what to do.
None of the above will solve any problems. In fact, they will make the situation even uglier and create even a less manageable team.
To help move teams from storming to norming and then performing, employ these actions:
Get the team to raise all problems/issues and solve them. Note that the team must work on solving them; the facilitator only facilitates.
Encourage members to debate ideas in a non-personal way. Set up a safe environment for discussing issues and coming up with solutions.
Offer clear options for resolving the problems and encourage the team to take control of implementing the solutions.
Help the team identify strategies and action plans, but don’t tell them what to do.
Help members identify their problems and work to resolve them. Don’t solve the problems for them.
Working with a team through its storming stage is the most difficult to manage for any facilitator. In storming, feelings are typically running high and conflicts (old or new) can affect the team’s overall morale. And if not already present, this stage can surface clearly dysfunctional behaviours.
Facilitators navigating the storming stage must remain absolutely neutral and have a high degree of assertiveness. Here are some suggestions for successfully maneuvering through storming:
Tension in groups is normal. Accept it.
Maintain your neutrality in the situation. Stay calm.
Create an environment that encourages expression of feelings. Think Vegas!
Admit that there’s conflict – no sense hiding from it.
Invite the team to give their input about the situation. Write solutions on a flipchart for all to see.
Intervene to correct dysfunctional behaviours. If you have to, quietly dismiss “unmanageable” individuals from the group.
Be assertive when refereeing heated discussions. Don’t be afraid to be assertive.
Facilitate open and honest communication. Silent disagreement can kill team morale and any good works coming from the group.
In addition to the above, teams deadlocked in storming need an opportunity to vent and resolve their issues. If this does not occur, there is little chance that the team will ever perform well as a group.