facilitating difficult group discussions

Directly asking them for thoughts may make them uncomfortable, so it’s important to find easier ways for them to contribute. Brainstorming is great, but it’s more productive when ideas are better defined before being presented to a group. Don’t expect any individuals to speak on behalf of their gender, ethnic group, class, status, etc. Exploring ineffective and effective race talk strategies will lead to more positive outcomes in workshop and classroom settings. Then design the experience to account for it and be prepared to change on the fly. It is the same when facilitating a difficult discussion with a group. Treat participants with respect and consideration. Useful Questions for Dialogue Facilitation Resource. Make sure you honor the importance of the conversation by choosing a place that is comfortable and allowing enough time for everyone to communicate their thoughts and feelings in an authentic and respectful way. So a challenge to an idea may be seen as a personal challenge as well. This is where the “parking lot” comes in—a running list of items that come up during a meeting that are worth addressing at another time. If team members believe the topic is important enough to discuss, either allow a set amount of time for it, or schedule an alternate meeting. Action planning is vital for team success. Empathy goes a long way toward dealing with people we perceive as difficult to work with in meetings. Meetings can be unproductive. Contrarians can cause less confident team members to hold back ideas, which can ultimately lead to fewer contributions to the group. FACILITATION – Group discussion involving a trained, neutral facilitator to assist in addressing difficult issues. (World Book Dictionary, 2004). A way to deal with insistent sidetrackers is to allow the group to vote on whether to continue the discussion. A fac i litator’s role is to guide the group through the meeting processes of deliberate dialogue, topic discussions, and decision-making. Contents • How to Have Difficult Conversations in the Classroom -- 3 Publicly and honestly acknowledging personal biases and weaknesses to self and others may have several Anyone who’s facilitated a meeting or learning event knows it takes dedication, perseverance, and deep reflection on what the group really needs to progress…and the more carefully we listen, the easier it is to figure out! This approach has given life to new services, industries, and some of the world’s most powerful leaders. Sometimes we facilitate conversations that all parties are eager to engage in; other times it’s not so easy. The Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown University has provided a step-by-step guide for effectively facilitating group discussions. When it comes to facilitation, it’s not enough to simply have a meeting agenda. We’ve identified some tough personas you might encounter in meetings and how to tweak your facilitation plan to better manage them. For many small-group leaders, one of the more intimidating things we do is facilitating a group discussion. Playing devil’s advocate has its place—but when a group is sharing ideas, arguing against their merits stifles productive discussion. You might recognize these types from your own team, or—gasp!—you might even be one yourself. If you can encourage participation from everyone in the room, everything else can begin to fall into place. Ask ramblers to summarize their thoughts into a few bullet points, and then sketch them out to help them focus their thoughts. Break the group into pairs or triads and let them discuss an issue in those smaller groups before initiating a large group discussion; Gain agreement with your team to use a physical object (e.g. Be careful to maintain some control but not over-control. Facilitate discussions: Staying neutral, you will help kick-off and round up conversations, highlighting points of consensus and summarising key takeaways. Some sidetrackers keep hammering away at an idea long after it’s been added to the parking lot, disrupting the discussion and making it more difficult to address items on the agenda. Whenever possible, use co-facilitators who represent different gender, racial or cultural backgrounds, especially when discussing … This helps build skills for future discussions. Develop an awareness for barriers for learning (cultural; social; experiential, etc). Consider possible sources of student views.On many issues, students’ viewpoints may be wrapped up in their personal identities, influenced by family members, or connected to religious/spiritual/moral beliefs. sponge football) to balance discussion. Following distressing local and national events, individuals may experience a broad range of emotions including fear, anger, anxiety, and intimidation. ). This is one of the most important group facilitation skills a facilitator can have. Action planning. Use this powerful technology to diagnose and facilitate group and organizational dynamics to create high-functioning collaborative teams. They may be shy, intimidated, or just someone who only speaks when they feel they have something important to say. To facilitate difficult dialogue about race in a productive manner, instructors and trainers need to understand not only the content of the communication but also the process resulting from the interpersonal dynamics. When facilitating a difficult dialogue on race, most instructors are wary about communicating their own prejudices and will respond in a cautious fashion that may be less than honest. Good facilitation begins with listening and like any art, doing it well requires skill. Groups often struggle with decision-making, particularly when dealing with tough problems. In meetings, ideas will always arise that aren’t on the agenda. ... Take a moment for the group to practice a breathing exercise or mindful relaxation technique before ending the meeting. Difficult conversation meetings are hard for everyone; that’s why they are “difficult.” But good facilitation and agenda design can make a big difference in the outcome. At the beginning of the quarter, you’ll want to... During Class. An important element of critical conversations is how to facilitate team discussions. The parking lot is helpful for allowing sidetrackers to be heard while also keeping the meeting on-track. Click here to share this article via Twitter, Top 11 Skills of an Effective Facilitator, Play-Doh, Pipe Cleaners and Post-Its: Our Favorite Supplies For Keeping Meetings Creative, Using Music For Facilitation: Chet Baker vs. Chet Faker. Facilitating a Difficult Discussion. As a facilitator, it’s important to protect those being bulldozed. The more you give the floor to other people’s contributions, the less power the bulldozer will have over the group. Your role as an active facilitator can include rewording questions posed by students, correcting misinformation, making reference to relevant reading materials or course content, asking for clarification, and reviewing main … It is a simple and effective technique for … Here is our formal definition of group facilitation: Group facilitation is what a leader says or does to create an experiential and relational environment in which diverse individuals develop as a group. The goal of facilitating group conversations (critical conversations) is to help groups become teams that work together to solve problems. Contents. That isn’t an easy task, but by using these techniques, you get one step closer to creating a capable and effective team. Very few of us feel like we'll have all the right answers, or that we can handle whatever curve balls will be thrown our way (and there will be some! Keynote Speaker and Corporate Trainer Dana Brownlee shares practical, effective tips for how to handle difficult personalities in your meetings. When it comes to facilitation, it’s not enough to simply have a meeting agenda. Facilitation is a new-ish word for an age-old art. Facilitation is an art. Or, the conversation goes round and round without a clear way forward. Then, role play with a trusted peer. Exploring ineffective and effective race talk strategies will lead to more positive outcomes in workshop and classroom settings. Difficult conversation meetings are hard for everyone; that’s why they are “difficult.” But good facilitation and agenda design can make a big difference in the outcome. Sidetrackers can derail a meeting with too many off-topic discussions. Alternatively, break into smaller groups for more focused problem-solving to help make this type feel more comfortable opening up. Provide opportunities for participants to pair-share. about issues that matter. Set rules of the room right away if you know you’ll have a contrarian in the room. If you can encourage participation from everyone in the room, everything else can begin to fall into place. Here are a few ways to ensure folks leave the meeting with a smile. 1. Facilitate discussions: Staying neutral, you will help kick-off and round up conversations, highlighting points of consensus and summarising key takeaways. Difficult conversation meetings are hard for everyone; that’s why they are “difficult.” But good facilitation and agenda design can make a big difference in the outcome. Guide for effectively facilitating group conversations ( critical conversations ) is to help make this type feel comfortable! 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