Episode notes
This episode explores some techniques for facilitating meetings with stronger personalities or those that dominate the discussion too much.
Dominant people tend to- Hog the discussion
- Be the first to speak speak
- Often want to make sure they are heard at the expense of others
- Be a referee
- Keep input balanced
- Make sure all voices and perspectives are heard
- Keep things moving so that the meeting doesn’t get bogged down or go in circles
- Being courageous and assertive
- Acknowledging the dominant person and then opening the floor to others
- Blaming the agenda
- Reminding the group that it’s important that all perspectives are heard and shared
- Interrupting the dominator (if needed) to redirect the discussion
- Talk to the person outside of the meeting and express your concerns
- Be clear that you value their input and you will continue to moderate future conversations
- It’s not personal, it’s just to make sure that we’re getting equal input and participation from the rest of the group
- Ask them if they have ideas on how to make the meeting discussion more productive for everyone that will still honor their need to share
- Ask them not to attend
- Drop them from the meeting invite (this one could obviously have collateral damage and may not be advised)
- You’ll lose your roll as a strong facilitator
- People may shutdown and check out
- Participants may start multi-tasking and become disengaged
- People you really need input from will stop coming to the meeting
- Your meeting will narrow in perspetive and views
- Less creative solutions may come from your meeting discussions
- Things will probably get worse
Music
- Pulse Rock by Kevin MacLeod
- Sax, Rock, and Roll by Kevin MacLeod
All songs licensed under Creative Commons
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