Facilitation: Techniques for structuring discussions:
Taking stack:
Changing format for different kinds of communicators -
People do not engage within group conversations the same way- there are those who will not speak up and those who will dominate the conversation-
- Establish that everyone should raise their hands if they want to speak and keep a list of these people in the order that they indicated their desire to speak. Nod to people to let them know that you have them on stack and that they should put their hands down.
- Progressive stack
- When taking stack, prioritize those who have not spoken as much and move them forward in the stack. Establish this at the beginning of the discussion so that people are clear on what is going on.
- Write down the names on the stack.
Changing format for different kinds of communicators -
People do not engage within group conversations the same way- there are those who will not speak up and those who will dominate the conversation-
- Pair-and-shares or Small group break outs
- Some people like to share in smaller groups. a small group break out or pair and share is a great way to get more voices in the mix.
- Go-around:
- A cycle around the room during which each person gets to address a specific question or issue and share their thoughts/feelings on it within a set amount of time (i.e. 2 minutes).
- A go-around is a good way to create a little space within the discussion during which everyone can share. You can do a “non-circular” go-around- this means that everyone in the room speaks once, but not necessarily in a pre-determined order. This way, people can speak when something has stimulated them.