Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Focus
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Chapter 7
The leader should always be aware of the focus
and the depth of the focus.
Knowing how to establish, hold, shift, and
deepen the focus is absolutely essential for
good leadership.
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
At any given moment the focus of the group is
either on a person, a topic, or an activity.
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
The Importance of the Focus
– “Let’s focus on specifically anger at home.”
– “For now, let’s look at ways you’re coping with
your grief.”
Using Activities to Establish the Focus
– Use whiteboard, make lists, handouts
– Use props, chairs, small chair
Using Rounds and Dyads
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Directing the Focus Through Comments
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Establishing the Focus
– On a Topic
– On a Person
Know How Long to Hold the Focus
Know Techniques to Hold the Focus
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Know When to Hold the Focus
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Holding the Focus
Ways to shift the focus
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Shift from a Topic to a Person
Shift from One Topic to Another Topic
Shift from a Topic to an Exercise
Shift from One Person to Another Person
Shift from A Person to a Topic
Shift from a Person to an Exercise
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
When to Shift the Focus
when too long on one person
when people are getting bored
when you need to cover additional topics
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Shifting the Focus
– Asking very thought-provoking questions
– Asking members to share more personally
– Working with a member intensely
– Conducting an intense exercise
– Confronting members about dynamics
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
The key to most growth, counseling, and
therapy groups is deepening the focus. A
leader deepens the focus by:
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Deepening the Focus
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
The chart in the next slide is a way to
visualize the depth of the group
• 10 is surface comments
• 7 is going deeper
• 1 would be very intense work
Beginning leaders often conduct groups
that go 10,9,8,10,9,8,etc. and never go
very deep. Your goal is to go below 7.
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
The Depth Chart
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Most sessions should go below 7
10
9
8
7___________________________________
6
impact
5
4
3
2
1
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
THE DEPTH CHART
– Make sure members are ready
– Make sure you have enough time
How Deep to Focus
– Always consider purpose of the group
– Always consider your expertise
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
When to Deepen the Focus
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Considerations Regarding Focus
Copyright © 2012 Brooks/Cole, a division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Knowing how to get, hold, shift, and
deepen the focus is the key to group
leading.
©2016. Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
Key Point