It takes a good facilitator to deliver a conversation that is resourceful and entertaining. However, this will not come naturally. There are dialogue facilitation techniques that will help you gain control of the discussion and make it interesting. These techniques can be used when a few people are involved and when you have a crowd to facilitate.
Become a traffic controller instead of behaving like a pilot. The pilot takes charge of the plane because he is the expert. A controller acts differently because his focus is ensuring that each plane finds its own place within the airport. Your role should be such that you direct the discussion and not acting like the main contributor. Allow people to express different points of view without allowing your opinion to override the discussion. It is not a one man show.
Establish norms that will guide your discussion. The role of a facilitator is to ensure that there is order and everyone has a chance to make contribution. This will only happen if there is order. Establish norms like the order in which people speak, how the responses should be made, expectations from those in attendance and language mannerisms, among others. It is these ground rules that make your discussion civil and productive.
Be interested in asking questions and not providing or directing answers. It is natural that you will have an opinion about the subject under discussion. However, allow the panelists to provide the answers. This encourages genuine discussion and allows participants to contribute extensively. Do not abdicate your role as a facilitator and act like a guest.
Ask questions that are open ended and that will provoke a discussion. This makes your discussion conversational instead of question and answer or interrogation session. Incite the panelists to keep going using such phrases are How So, Tell Me More and What Followed, among others. This helps you avoid the one word answers that make discussions boring.
Prepare a captivating conversation starter. Though you have a topic to tackle, it must begin as an easy conversation to warm the place. In fact, it is recommended that you make remarks that are open ended and that allow everyone to jump in. Set the tone by starting the conversation using an interesting tactic. Ensure that this opener does not lock out some people because the intention is to make everyone feel at ease.
The panelists should not feel forced to make contribution. Turn it into a conversation where everyone wants to jump in and also listen to the opinions of other people. Choose words that are easy and that encourage an open discussion. Allow people to share openly. Watch their subtle motions, facial expressions and eye contact to know who wants to jump in and who has a different opinion. Tactfully tame panelists who want to dominate.
Keep the dialogue relevant throughout the time you have set out. New ideas have the potential of derailing people. Though you must press people to talk, it must not be to the point of embarrassment. Allow people to redeem themselves instead of slapping them when they are pushed to the corner. Make the ending memorable and unique, ensuring that there is apparent consensus.
Become a traffic controller instead of behaving like a pilot. The pilot takes charge of the plane because he is the expert. A controller acts differently because his focus is ensuring that each plane finds its own place within the airport. Your role should be such that you direct the discussion and not acting like the main contributor. Allow people to express different points of view without allowing your opinion to override the discussion. It is not a one man show.
Establish norms that will guide your discussion. The role of a facilitator is to ensure that there is order and everyone has a chance to make contribution. This will only happen if there is order. Establish norms like the order in which people speak, how the responses should be made, expectations from those in attendance and language mannerisms, among others. It is these ground rules that make your discussion civil and productive.
Be interested in asking questions and not providing or directing answers. It is natural that you will have an opinion about the subject under discussion. However, allow the panelists to provide the answers. This encourages genuine discussion and allows participants to contribute extensively. Do not abdicate your role as a facilitator and act like a guest.
Ask questions that are open ended and that will provoke a discussion. This makes your discussion conversational instead of question and answer or interrogation session. Incite the panelists to keep going using such phrases are How So, Tell Me More and What Followed, among others. This helps you avoid the one word answers that make discussions boring.
Prepare a captivating conversation starter. Though you have a topic to tackle, it must begin as an easy conversation to warm the place. In fact, it is recommended that you make remarks that are open ended and that allow everyone to jump in. Set the tone by starting the conversation using an interesting tactic. Ensure that this opener does not lock out some people because the intention is to make everyone feel at ease.
The panelists should not feel forced to make contribution. Turn it into a conversation where everyone wants to jump in and also listen to the opinions of other people. Choose words that are easy and that encourage an open discussion. Allow people to share openly. Watch their subtle motions, facial expressions and eye contact to know who wants to jump in and who has a different opinion. Tactfully tame panelists who want to dominate.
Keep the dialogue relevant throughout the time you have set out. New ideas have the potential of derailing people. Though you must press people to talk, it must not be to the point of embarrassment. Allow people to redeem themselves instead of slapping them when they are pushed to the corner. Make the ending memorable and unique, ensuring that there is apparent consensus.
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