9. Help Talkers Move On.
Letting a talker dominate the discussion makes everyone (except the talker) miserable and kills any meaningful exchange. Learn to interject phrases like “Let me jump in…” and “Great stuff, thanks for sharing. Let’s move on to another question.” Don’t just sit there and take it, that’s why you’re the facilitator. Be careful though, if you embarrass the talker the rest of the group will turn on you. Gently, gently.
10. Always Encourage.
Every comment should be acknowledged with an encouragement. Encouragement isn’t agreement, it is being thankful for the contribution. Everyone who contributes should feel appreciation for their gift.
Facilitation is a blast when done right, and is a way to help people and teams become better. So don’t suck at it. 🙂
This article about small group discussions originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
