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THE ART OF PROCESSING EXERCISES

THE ART OF PROCESSING EXERCISES

Probably the trickiest part of facilitating is becoming skilled at the fine art of processing exercises. The key is to ask wise questions rather than making one's own comments about the exercise.

Processing exercises is really the fine art of asking questions rather than making comments or making observations about the exercise. When processing an exercise, it is only necessary to have one or two questions prepared beforehand. Other questions will naturally flow from the discussion. Finally, it is prudent to begin by asking the participants, “How did you feel in the exercise?” This question helps the participants to come out of the exercise.

The four key areas to cover when processing an exercise are:
. Feelings Experiences Perceptions Relating to life

FEELINGS
· General question: "What was that like for you?" to open processing.
· What primary feelings occurred during the task? How did you express it?
· Did you feel that you were listened to/heard/understood? Did you do the same to others?
· Did you feel free to express your ideas/feelings? What behavior/structure facilitated open expression?
· Did you feel what you had to say was valued? How were you affirmed?
· How did you let others know you valued what they said/did?
· Did you feel there was cohesiveness in the group? What helped or hindered?

EXPERIENCES
· What behavior/process/structure enabled the group to fulfill its task effectively?
· How were decisions made?
· When was the turning point? Who or what caused it?
· What helped in finding common ground/agreement/consensus?
· Were you able to hear and respect differences and respond in a caring way?
· Did you feel frustrated? How did you handle your frustration?
· Did anyone dominate the group? Did you say so?
· How were you involved in the task? Are you satisfied/dissatisfied with your behavior?
· Did you take any risks? Were they successful/unsuccessful?

PERCEPTIONS
· How well did the group work together?
· How well did the group support individual members?
· Were you aware of any obstacles to communication?
· Was there a balance between accomplishing the task and maintaining relationships?
· Did you feel that you had any influence in the group in getting the task done?
· How do you deal with and use differences in the group, opinions, age, skills, knowledge, etc?

RELATING TO LIFE
· What did you learn about yourself? About others?
· How can you apply what you learned about yourself to another experience?
· Was there any Transformation?
· How does this apply to your life?

These questions needn't be asked in this order. Participants' responses to one question might lead to the most appropriate next question. Particular questions are suggested at the end of each exercise. When you have finished asking questions it's good to add, "Would any team member like to ask any other questions?"

Some responses lead to very productive discussions; others don't. In any case, to end discussion you might say, "Because our time is short we'll have to limit discussion to two or three more comments." Or, if a particularly "hot" topic comes up, put it on an "Unanswered Questions" sheet and explain that you'll get back to it later in the workshop.

Putting keywords for the instructions for an exercise on one side of a 3x5 index card and some key questions on the other side can be a great help. Facilitators don't have to have ace memories! And remember, you can always call, "CLINIC,"

Consider "teaming" when presenting exercises. One facilitator might set up an exercise, another might process it. Use co-facilitators as scribes, or to model what's to be done.

Perhaps most important, TRUST THE PROCESS! Even if directions are very muddled, or if participants interpret them in a completely new way, in the end, things usually work out (meaning that participants learn something).

Facilitators are only human, even old-timers! "We do what we can." "What happens happens.' We learn experientially, too. Hopefully, a difficulty in one workshop will help us do better the next time.