You're leading a virtual workshop with a dominating participant. How do you regain control of the discussion?
Leading a virtual workshop can be a challenging endeavor, especially when one participant takes over the discussion. This not only stifles collaboration but can also derail the agenda. As the facilitator, you must ensure that all voices are heard and that the workshop objectives are met. The key lies in managing the dynamics of the group with tact and assertiveness. By implementing a few strategic practices, you can regain control of the discussion and guide the workshop to a successful conclusion, ensuring a productive experience for all participants.
At the outset of your virtual workshop, establish clear ground rules that promote equitable participation. Explain that while contributions are welcome, it's important to share the floor to foster diverse perspectives. Encourage participants to use features like 'raise hand' before speaking and remind them of time limits for contributions. This preemptive step can prevent a single participant from dominating and sets a respectful tone for the entire workshop.
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When setting ground rules, gain consensus from the group on what should happen if someone does not follow them. This agreement can include two or three ways the group agrees to call someone in or out. Too often this is left for the facilitator to figure out but having these agreed-upon methods in place ensures accountability within the group.
When a participant begins to dominate the conversation, tactfully redirect the focus back to the group. Acknowledge their input briefly and then pose a question to the rest of the participants or invite someone who has been quiet to share their thoughts. This technique subtly shifts the spotlight and encourages a more balanced discussion without directly confronting or alienating the dominant participant.
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Pour accompagner un participant à laisser la parole, il y a beaucoup de phrases qui fonctionne comme "ton point de vue est intéressant, voyons voir qui ne le partage pas pour faire avancer les échanges" ou "merci de ton intervention, à qui veux tu donner la parole maintenant ?". Rendre le participant qui domine une conversation acteur de son futur silence fonctionne bien en général.
Leverage the breakout room feature available in most virtual meeting platforms to split participants into smaller groups. This allows for more voices to be heard and prevents any single individual from monopolizing the conversation. Assign a specific task or question for each breakout group to discuss, which helps maintain structure and ensures that when the larger group reconvenes, the discussion is varied and inclusive.
Implementing time checks is an effective way to manage dominating participants. Politely interject with time reminders to maintain the workshop's pace and give others the opportunity to speak. This approach not only keeps the session on track but also serves as a gentle nudge to more verbose individuals that their time to share is limited.
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Il faut régulièrement rappeler que le temps est limité et que l'intelligence collective se nourrit de la réflexion de chacun. "J'aimerais entendre tout le monde", "Qui ne s'est pas encore exprimé ?", "Et toi, qu'en penses tu ?". Ca fait généralement comprendre à un participant qu'il doit laisser de la place aux autres.
If the dominating behavior persists, consider reaching out to the participant privately through a direct message or separate call. Express appreciation for their enthusiasm but also convey the importance of balanced participation. A personal check-in can often resolve the issue discreetly without causing embarrassment or disruption to the overall workshop.
Finally, actively foster an inclusive environment by encouraging quieter participants to contribute. Pose direct questions or offer prompts that invite them to share their insights. This not only enriches the discussion with a variety of viewpoints but also signals to dominating participants that everyone's input is valued and necessary for a well-rounded workshop.
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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