What do you do when the group you are facilitating gets stuck, caught in a loop covering the same old ground, is unable to agree on anything, is working too slowly, is unfocused, or encounters one of the many problems that can get in the way of reaching a conclusion?

This book by the authors of The Facilitation of Groups presents a fresh approach for the experienced facilitator. It focuses on the key skill of noticing what is missing in a group’s interaction and finding a way of introducing the missing elements or ‘distinctions’ while the group is in action. It explores a number of these distinctions including:

• purpose and culture
• powerful listening and speaking
• fearlessness and ruthless compassion
• intuition
• affirmation and celebration
• safety and trust
• intentionality
• emotional competence
• completion

and offers ways to generate them. Each distinction is described and then suggestions and processes are given to help generate it in the group.

Contents: Zen Story; Introduction; What are distinctions?; Purpose and culture; Safety and trust; Being-with and intimacy; Powerful listening and speaking; Intentionality; Power-with; Fearlessness and ruthless compassion; Emotional competence; Intuition; Completion; Affirmation and celebration; Authentic community; Ethics; Transformation; Group learning; More about distinctions; Common questions; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author: Dale Hunter, Anne Bailey and Bill Taylor are experienced facilitators and writers. They are the authors of The Zen of Groups, The Facilitation of Groups and Co-operacy.

Reviews: 'In common with the Zenergy team's other books this book is essentially practical. It has good clear exposition of what they are trying to achieve. Every distinction is described and the effects of its absence outlined.' TrainingZONE, February 2000

'Just as Bourdieu applied distinctions to cultural competence, so Hunter applies it to managerial competence. Handling Groups is therefore an excellent diagnostic for the health of the organisation - interpersonal relationships, group effectiveness, leadership and management style, structure and communication ... Real value-for-money, eluding the mere "new age" glow and pseudo-counselling that some books in this "touchy-feely" area of management sometimes have.' Library Management, Volume 21, Number 7, 2000

'As with their earlier books, this is so simply written that it has more depth than is apparent if simply skimming it ... This is a stimulating and practical book.' Rapport 51, Spring 2001

'Good if you have a group that's stuck, unable to agree or unfocused.' The Teacher Trainer, Summer 2001