When to Intervene in Groups

In The Skilled Facilitator (2002) Roger Schwartz gives some criteria for when to intervene as a facilitator. Since a facilitator would often be taking up a lot of air time if they intervened each time something went slightly askew, having a sense as to the kinds of interventions a facilitator might make, and a criteria for deciding if it makes sense to make this type of intervention at this time can be useful.

Schwartz suggests that one might intervene to address ground rules that are not being kept, to improve group effectiveness through some larger process or structural change, to address assumptions that are stated as facts, to teach concepts and techniques for improving group process, to reframe a problem or attacking statement, to explore the facilitator’s role and performance, and to make content suggestions.

The criteria that Schwartz suggests for deciding when to intervene are: “To what extent is the behavior hindering the group’s effectiveness?” “What is the consequence of not intervening?” “Have I contracted with the group to make this type of intervention?” and “Do I have the skills to intervene?”

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