Facilitator Guide 6: Group Wisdom

Use Group Wisdom When:

• The group or individual has an issue or common problem for which practical suggestions or actions are possible
• People start to wallow in their problems (“nothing works, nothing ever will…”)
• The lived experience of people in the group could assist another member

Why Group Wisdom Is Important:

• To tap into the lived experience and acquired knowledge of the group

Do not use Group Wisdom for intense issues over which a person has little or no control.

Steps

1. Guide the person or group to clarify and focus on a single issue before discussing options (when necessary, ask questions to clarify the issue).

   “What more do we know?”

2. Restate the issue to make sure it is the real topic.

   If the group: Say, “Let’s clarify the issue at hand before we move to solutions.”

   “It sounds like you are asking the group: [restate the issue].”

3. Once the issue is clear, ask the whole group to help come up with constructive, practical and helpful information to address the challenge.
4. Ask the individual if more is needed about this subject that is constructive and helpful?

   “Now that we’ve heard from the group, is there a specific help or resource that you still need information on how to access?”

5. Ask the group what they know about accessing that help or resource.

   “What do we know that will help _____ with this need?”