Facilitation - The Groan Zone

In this classic leadership guide, The Facilitators Guide to Participatory Decision Making, Kaner et al. (2007) discuss the dynamics of group decision-making. The authors describe a process that many of you may be experiencing—a new topic is introduced and familiar, diverse perspectives are brought into the mix; this usually results in a period called the “Groan Zone.” They explain, “Struggling to understand a wide range of foreign, or opposing ideas is not a pleasant experience. Group members can be repetitious, insensitive, defensive, short tempered...when this occurs most people don’t have the slightest notion of what’s happening to them. Sometimes the mere act of acknowledging the existence of the Groan Zone can be a significant step for the group to take.” It is important to remember that the group decision making process moves out of this zone into convergent thinking and ultimately a decision point! 

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