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Seven Tips for Leading GroupDiscussions
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Seven Tips for Leading Group Discussions
ne of the keys to a successful training session is strong participation from everyone in
attendance. But as you’ve no doubt discovered in your own training sessions, knowing this and
achieving this are two very different things.People are reluctant to participate in group discussions for a number of reasons
—
ranging frompersonality to culture to group dynamics, and beyond. But in a professional environment, employees are
expected to meet certain standards of performance and behavior. It’s not unreasonable, then, to expect
them to offer their ideas, opinions, and feelings in training sessions, meetings, and any other groupenvironment. Following are some tips to help you get participants involved in group discussions.
1.
Make it safe to participate.
One way to do this is to avoid condemning anyone’s response as“wrong” or comparing it with someone else’s response.
2.
Use open questions to solicit responses from class.
Open questions aim to get someone talking(as opposed to closed questions, which aim for a yes or no response). Following are somegeneral open questions:
What questions do you have?
What can we hope to achieve with this new initiative?
Why do you feel that way?
How might that happen?
3.
Use participants’ names.
This helps to create an open, informal atmosphere.
Ronald mentioned something about that earlier.
Tamara, what do you think?
4.
Thank participants for their input.
Not only will this give positive reinforcement to those peoplewho are participating energetically, but it will also inspire others to do the same.
Everyone
likesto be thanked.
Thanks for your insight, Marvin.
Thanks, Judy.
I’m so glad y
ou said that, Maria.
5.
Use participants as resources.
If you want participation from the whole group, it’s important tomake sure you’re not seen as the only authority in the room. When questions or comments
come your way, deflect them back to the group.
Who
wants to answer Shelly’s question?
Where would you find the answer to that?
O
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