A discussion will only be as sweet and fruitful as the facilitator makes it to be. Good facilitation enables guests to freely express themselves and exhaust the topic at hand. There are excellent dialogue facilitation techniques that have turned ordinary persons into pro hosts. Here is a look at some of these techniques and how they can be used.
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.
Set the rules or norms to be observed before beginning your discussion. A facilitator is in charge of maintaining order on any forum. This is the only way a sober discussion will happen. Set expectations like time, language, tone and how to capture the attention of a facilitator. Everyone will have to stick to these rules if the discussion is to be meaningful.
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.
Make your questions open ended. The session should feel like a conversation and not a question and answer session. Among the tricks you can use to encourage conversation is Tell Me More, How So, What Followed and such other conversational phrases. This ensures that you are not getting one worded answers that would make the discussion boring to follow.
Construct a captivating conversations starter that will bring everyone on board into the same platform. Though there is the topic to be discussed, you do not jump straight into it. Find an easy discussion that will warm the floor and bring the minds of all participants into focus. The discussion can be general so that anyone can jump in in a fun and easy manner. Avoid topics that would be divisive or close out a section of the audience.
Use words that are invitational and not forceful. Let participation in the debate appear as though it is a natural invitation for all. This will be determined by the words or phrases you use. When it feels like an invitation, panelists find it easy to share openly. Observe the facial expressions, eye contacts and subtle motions that your panelists make. They will tell you when to allow someone to jump in and when the discussion is pinning out of hand. Participants who want to dominate must be tamed.
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.
Set the rules or norms to be observed before beginning your discussion. A facilitator is in charge of maintaining order on any forum. This is the only way a sober discussion will happen. Set expectations like time, language, tone and how to capture the attention of a facilitator. Everyone will have to stick to these rules if the discussion is to be meaningful.
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.
Make your questions open ended. The session should feel like a conversation and not a question and answer session. Among the tricks you can use to encourage conversation is Tell Me More, How So, What Followed and such other conversational phrases. This ensures that you are not getting one worded answers that would make the discussion boring to follow.
Construct a captivating conversations starter that will bring everyone on board into the same platform. Though there is the topic to be discussed, you do not jump straight into it. Find an easy discussion that will warm the floor and bring the minds of all participants into focus. The discussion can be general so that anyone can jump in in a fun and easy manner. Avoid topics that would be divisive or close out a section of the audience.
Use words that are invitational and not forceful. Let participation in the debate appear as though it is a natural invitation for all. This will be determined by the words or phrases you use. When it feels like an invitation, panelists find it easy to share openly. Observe the facial expressions, eye contacts and subtle motions that your panelists make. They will tell you when to allow someone to jump in and when the discussion is pinning out of hand. Participants who want to dominate must be tamed.
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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