Circle of friends

Submitted by Fabian on Wed, 2008-12-03 09:01.

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Group facilitation methods: Closings, Ice Breakers and Energizers, Openings

Identification

Level of process:

Method

Used as component of:

Can be used at the opening or closing of a workshop, respectively a seminar. Especially recommended for larger seminars, with a great number of participants.

Types of Participants:

Motivated, open and sociable.

Howto

Usual or Expected Outcomes:

Participants get a chance to greet or to say goodbye to other participants. Creates harmony and enhances interaction between participants.

Level of participation:

High

Potential Pitfalls:

Inconsistent movement of participants or participants, because participants take different amounts of time to express themselves.

How is success evaluated:

All participants got a chance to greet or say goodbye to other participants and could express themselves.

Type of Facilitator-Client Relationship:

The facilitator instructs the group on what to do and may also take part in the process.

Level of Difficulty to Facilitate:

No specific skills required

Setting and Materials:

This method requires a room large enough and with enough open space so the participants can line up in two circles, one enclosing the other.

Procedures:

1. Divide the workshop participants into two even groups.

2. The two groups form two big circles, one outer circle and one inner circle. Participants in the inner circle shout be faced outwards, while participants in the inner circle should be faced inwards.

3. The facilitator instructs asks the participants in each circle to take one step into opposite directions. This means people in the outer circle would take a step to the right and people in the inner circle take step to the left.

4. The participants interact with each new person while moving around in circles. This can be a greeting or saying goodbye or any other form of interaction.

Note: The facilitator can also ask participants to make a statement about themselves or any other form of interaction that matches the workshop.

How flexible is the process?:

Participants can be asked to say or do all kinds of different thing while engaged in the process of walking the circle. The facilitator might ask them to say hello or goodbye, but also to express their opinion about a certain topic or to make a statement about themselves.

Background

License Model:

Free (or unattributable)

Website:

http://www.iaf-methods.org/

Suppliers

Creators:

Name	City	Country
VALDUS	Port Louis	Mauritius

Trainers:

Name	City	Country
VALDUS	Port Louis	Mauritius

Consultants:

Name	City	Country
VALDUS	Port Louis	Mauritius

Supporters:

Name	City	Country
VALDUS	Port Louis	Mauritius

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Poll

How has the current economic downturn affected your facilitation practice?

I have less work than I did a few years ago.

25%

I am facilitating different processes from what I did a few years ago.

13%

I work with different clients than I did a few years ago.

38%

I haven’t noticed much difference.

I have more work now than I had a few years ago.

25%

Total votes: 8

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