Home
>
Team Building
>
Getting Team Discussions Moving in The Right Direction

Getting Team Discussions Moving in The Right Direction

Group discussions are where much of the creative work of teams is accomplished. Ideas and problem solutions from all team members are the desired outputs of group discussions. However, even experienced facilitators find leading team discussions a challenge, especially when issues are controversial and emotional.

So as the team facilitator, what do you do?

Though a facilitator's primary objective is to help the team come up with its own answers, that's tough when you are part of the team. And one of the hardest things to do is to get the discussion going in the right direction. The team facilitator is the catalyst that starts the ball rolling. You can't leave it up to the team to figure out how to get started talking.

Here are some tips to help you out so your team begins their discussion on the right foot. Try different approaches to see what works for you.

* Before beginning, ensure each team member can see and hear everyone else.

* Establish a time limit for the discussion.

* Use open-ended questions to get the ball rolling (e.g., "What has been your experience with??" - or - "What are your thoughts about??")

* Ask one question at a time. Have questions in a logical order.

* Give team members time to think and respond. Pause for at least 15 seconds before giving additional guidance or direction.

* If necessary, rephrase your question or provide examples for clarification.

* When team members respond, encourage them to speak to the full group, rather than back to you.

* Try "Brainwriting" when the team needs to develop a list of things. For example, ask everyone to jot down 2-3 reasons why a certain problem exists.

* Have team members respond to their neighbors, or work in threes, on a question or issue. Each group should then report its results back to the whole team.

* Ask team members to make an "educated guess." For example, if the team is trying to implement ways to reduce errors, ask them to guess the average amount of time a person spends resolving errors made by someone else.

Denise O'Berry (aka 'Team Doc') provides tools, tips and advice to help organizations build better teams. Find out more at http://www.teambuildingtips.com

one time home cleaning Highland Park ..

In The News:

Privacy risks are hiding in plain sight, as your personal data is likely being collected, tracked, and sold without your knowledge.

VenHub, a fully autonomous, AI-powered smart store just opened at the LAX/Metro Transit Center in Los Angeles.

A woman's Facebook account takeover reveals dangerous social engineering tactics and provides lessons on recovery, avoiding scams and enacting stronger security measures.

Shanghai engineers are using 432 walking robots to relocate a complex, preserving Shikumen architecture while creating space for a modern underground hub and cultural center.

Major healthcare data analytics firm Episource had a cybersecurity incident exposing 5 million patients' medical records and personal information in recent breach.

A new sophisticated PayPal scam sends legitimate-looking emails from official PayPal addresses, using phone numbers instead of links to convince victims to download remote access tools.

Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.

The innovative Kara Pod device extracts moisture from air to create mineral-rich water and brew coffee, featuring UV sterilization and compatibility with Nespresso pods.

Gov. Hochul unveiled New York's nuclear power plant project to power a million homes, which faces permit challenges while promising jobs and a cleaner energy future.

SAFE introduces Aerie, an underground luxury bunker combining high-end living with advanced security, wellness amenities and interactive walls simulating panoramic views.

A Facebook scammer posing as Elon Musk tricked a victim with promises of a Tesla and $250,000, requesting gift cards that become untraceable once the codes are shared.

Experience hands-free golfing with the Robera Neo smart caddie that uses AI to follow you, navigate obstacles and carry your clubs with GPS course mapping.

Cybersecurity alert: 16 billion passwords exposed in massive credential database affecting major platforms. Protect your accounts with password managers

The innovative BeBot robot uses electric power to remove pollution from shorelines, covering 20-30 times more area than manual collection while preserving wildlife.

A new ClickFix campaign targets macOS users with fake Spectrum support sites, tricking victims with CAPTCHA failures to paste commands that install information-stealing malware.

AI-powered autonomous trucks from Plus Automation are being tested across the U.S., Europe and Asia to solve logistics challenges while facing regulatory hurdles and labor concerns.

Your health information might feel private and secure with your doctor, but the reality is far more complicated. Data brokers collect a wide range of sensitive health data, from diagnoses and prescription details to personal identifiers, and sell this data to marketers, insurers, and other third parties.

Kepler Robotics has officially introduced its Forerunner K2 "Bumblebee" humanoid robot at the SAIC-GM automotive plant in Shanghai, marking a significant moment in the real-world deployment of advanced robotics.

Scammers never seem to be running out of new ways to try and get their hands on your money – and lately, they've been getting sophisticated.

Thirty people were injured and killed, though the exact number remains currently unknown, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Damascus church.

Unexpected password reset alerts signal potential hacking attempts or phishing scams. Learn how to respond and establish stronger security measures for your accounts.

A historic electric airplane flight landed at JFK with passengers, marking a milestone as Beta Technologies demonstrates the practicality and efficiency of electric air travel.

The Chaos ransomware group breached Optima Tax Relief in a double-extortion attack, stealing sensitive customer case files and corporate documents with personal information.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The first human brain-computer interface by Paradromics was completed in 20 minutes, featuring microelectrodes to help paralyzed individuals control computers with thoughts.

Getting Team Discussions Moving in The Right Direction

Team Building