wanted to express?” Graciously accept decision whether to participate and move on. Hold others from jumping in or dominating by asking members to go one at a time and inviting the quiet person to go first. Suggest a structured go-around to give each person a chance to speak, especially if participation is very uneven. Door openers include: “Who else as an idea?” “Is this discussion raising questions for anyone?” “Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t spoken for awhile.” Minimal encouragers include: “Tell me more.” “For instance…” “And?” “Go on.” “Really?” Attentive silence – This skill gives participants the time to reflect on what they are thinking and feeling, and whether they want to express their thoughts in more depth. Be prepared to tolerate the awkward five seconds or so while members organize their thoughts into coherent communications. Stay focused on the speaker. Provide no verbal or nonverbal feedback – just stay relaxed yet attentive. Sometimes cues, such as raising your hand, to prevent others from breaking the silence may be needed. This technique can also be used when the group is confused, agitated, or having trouble staying focused. “Let’s take a minute of silence to think what this means to each of us.” Listening for shared interests – This skill focuses the group on areas of agreement versus areas of disagreement. Often group members hold on to their polarizing positions instead of seeking common ground by discovering what values, beliefs, or goals they may share. Facilitators can reduce this tendency toward polarization by validating areas of disagreement and emphasizing areas of agreement.
helpful when there are speakers who have monopolized the conversation. Example: “For the last 15 minutes you have been talking about topic ‘A’ and some of you indicated you wanted to talk about topic ‘B’, would now be a good time to switch?” or “A while ago Erika brought up an issue and no one responded at that time. Before we lose that thought, I want to check to see if anyone has a comment for Erika before we move on?” Caution! When a facilitator directs the discussion in one way from another, they run the risk of being seen as non-neutral – again, use sparingly. iv. Tracking different lines of thought is helpful when a discussion is at its most competitive and when people are least likely to be listening to each other. It is important that the facilitator remains neutral by refraining from prioritizing or structuring the discussion’s agenda and supporting every speaker. Responses to tracking are usually either integrative proposals combining various themes or insisting on one key topic. If is a dispute about which topic to discuss and in what order, sequencing can help. Tolerating Silences: Occasionally, group members need time to form an analysis of complex problems or need time while they search for tactful ways to express difficult feelings. Although silence can be experienced as painful, a skilled facilitator is advised that it reflects the groups needs and should be confused with the facilitator’s own discomfort level for tolerating it. Tolerating silence is like any other skill in that it is acquired through practice. Additional Tips Be Authentic: Even with a well-prepared agenda and key points you must make, you need to be flexible and natural. If people sense that you are reading memorized lines, they will feel like they are being talked down to, and won’t respond freely.