You're facilitating a discussion that's starting to drag. How can you keep valuable contributions flowing?

If a discussion is starting to drag, re-energize it by summarizing key points and refocusing on the agenda. Introduce a new question or activity to spark interest and encourage fresh perspectives. Recognize and build on valuable contributions to keep the momentum going. By keeping the conversation dynamic and on track, you’ll ensure that the discussion remains productive and engaging.

On peut aussi ajouter quelques points : - faire des mini jeux ( taper les mains, compter ensemble à haute voix de 1 jusqu'à 10) - Désigner pour faire des blagues ( cela permet de faire les gens et avoir des énergies positifs) - animer la salle par une musique qui est en mode( cela la musique que tout le monde aime ou en générale) - se retirer, faire des mouvements des vas et vient dans la salle, - saluer son voisin en disant qu'il est important.

Change the mode of interaction. If it's group - move to pairs or get people to take a moment on their own, capture their thoughts and then share their freshest thinking. Take a break Use an energiser or simply call a break and then approach the conversation (if it needs to be resumed) in a different way. Tackle the topic in a fresh way Ask a different question to get the juices going.

Always been intentional to summarise points. As part of preparation I find that it’s helpful to prepare quizzes based on the topic being discussed. These quizzes can be used to enrich the discussion but also to keep the audience engaged. I also find it useful to constantly steer the discussion to stay on point. I find useful to do so not only through summarising but also having key focus areas in the discussions. that can also include short 2 to 3 question surveys if there are audiences. I also make it a point to jokingly mention that a human being speaks on average 150to 160 words per minute. And I use that statistic to the panel of the need to get to the point promptly.

Engage Participants: Call on specific individuals to share their perspectives, ensuring quieter members get a chance to contribute. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage deeper discussion by posing thought-provoking, open-ended questions related to the topic. Summarize and Redirect: Briefly summarize key points discussed and redirect the conversation to fresh areas for exploration. Incorporate Interactive Tools: Use polls, whiteboards, or breakout rooms to re-energize the group. Acknowledge Contributions: Recognize valuable input to motivate others to share their thoughts. Change the Pace: Introduce a quick activity or a 2-minute stretch break to refresh participants’ focus.

In my experience, asking powerful, thought-provoking questions can shift the direction and energy in a room the fastest. A lagging discussion is a sign of being off track and losing sight of the real problem that needs addressed. Reenergizing a room requires a bold agenda as well as adaptability to flow with the diverse minds in the room.

One of the things that I found helpful is using short YouTube videos as resources to spur deeper discussions and open-ended 'arguments'. These resources, especially the ones that are in-line with the topic being discussed, reignite their passion and interest for the topic and also encouraged more meaningful contributions. I don't joke with interactive and visual aids. They are elements of effective training and facilitation.

When a discussion starts to drag, I find that posing provocative, open-ended questions can effectively reignite interest. I think my attitude as a facilitator—viewing participants as peers in some situations—can also help rekindle discussions. Throwing out open-ended questions and giving a thoughtful stare to those ready to jump in is a strategy I often use. Taking a deep breath and pausing to restructure my approach also allows me to regain the speed and direction of the discussion. By encouraging deeper thinking and making small adjustments, I can help participants reconnect with the conversation and bring forward meaningful contributions.

Reverse brainstorming type questions also would work here - 'how can we make this worse?' or 'what should we not do'? can help spark new ideas and conversations.

Your session prep and agenda should include a structured questioning process to guide participants through reflection and critical thinking. This helps ensure the conversation remains purposeful and leads to outcomes aligned with your goals. One effective framework for focused conversations is ORID (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional), which takes participants from facts and feelings to analysis and decision-making.

Great saying- Sometimes, the quietest person in the room has the loudest mind. Silence isn't emptiness; it's a space where thoughts speak louder than words. Being a facilitator, one must ensure that everyone is included not only engaging the individual in discussion but also giving the new perspective to be a part of it. Silence doesn’t mean they are empty; it means they are absorbing everything.

“I’d love to hear from someone who hasn’t shared their thoughts on this topic yet?” Then smile and wait encouragingly. Works every time!

I believe that some of the most valuable insights often come from quieter participants. That’s why, as a facilitator, I make a conscious effort to spotlight these voices. Directly inviting their input or creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing can lead to new and refreshing ideas that may otherwise go unheard. Balancing the discussion by ensuring both introverts and extroverts have the opportunity to share is key to making conversations inclusive and engaging for everyone. While some jump in confidently with quick thoughts, others may take time to think deeply. Spotting these deep thinkers, who may be hesitant to contribute, and drawing out their insights can result in more vibrant discussions.

Convindar pessoas para participar pode ser uma boa forma para destravar suas participa??es e dar mais confian?a para estas pessoas. Contudo, um cuidado necessário, é interpretar suas rea??es e avaliar se estas pessoas est?o a vontade. Se for percebido que n?o há um bom clima de abertura ou que algumas pessoas se sentem inseguras, é importante propor atividades e dinamicas que permitam que as pessoas contribuam de forma individual e anonimizada. Por exemplo: substituir um brainstorming por um brainwriting.

Yes often introverts are the onse you out to pay attention, move closer to their desk if need arise and be interested on their opinion, assure a safe space for them on what ever we discussing and if they contribute something make sure you make them proud of their points by Emotional contribution knod if needs to to build their confidence. As a leader and facilitator have confidence in what you facilitating then audience will be attracted by your confident and they will pay attention to Comment then you divert back to the business of the day that is facilitating offcourse.

Make the group the visual aid Use constellations or spectrums to have people 'vote with their feet'. This helps to take snapshots of sentiment. And we can probe by asking people why they're standing where they are standing.

I find that using visual aids is a powerful way to refocus attention and clarify complex ideas. Diagrams, charts, or simple drawings can make abstract concepts easier to grasp, providing participants with a clearer understanding of the topic. Visuals also act as a catalyst for further discussion, stimulating engagement and sparking new insights. Using visual aids along with seeking clarification from participants is a great way to capture the attention of the whole group. I also encourage participants to contribute to or interpret visual aids, creating an interactive environment that keeps discussions dynamic, focused, and inclusive.

This more often than not doesn't mean slides! Getting the group to create visual aids promotes agency and ownership. This can be done by using the group and applying spectrums or groupings. It may be creating a visual representation of the topic in hand. It might be seeing who can get a paper aeroplane the furthest! This is a chance to be very creative.

A good use of post its, photo cards, attractive visuals and tennis ball passing along to each other can spice up the discussion to make it more energized.

One thing I always find it useful is to do break up group activities or to introduce an interactive activity. However all these, I strongly recommend, should be planned in advance. It's important that the activity needs to be relevant and better still, inject more energy or shift mindset to help learning.

Small groups can help bring out the quieter voices as long as the groups aren't dominated by the loud voices. If other folks are available to help facilitate the break out groups, this can be mitigated. Along with some 'rules' for the small group discussions

Breakout groups are a key part of how I facilitate, and they've consistently been a “fan favorite” in the team trainings and meetings I’ve led. To make sure these sessions are not only engaging but also productive, I always start by working with the group to establish clear, agreed-upon rules of engagement at the beginning of our session. This creates a foundation of accountability, both individually and as a team, helping everyone stay focused and work together toward meaningful outcomes.

Breaking into groups in call center enviroment kind of always brings a positive participation, more attetion given individual so for the capacity of the group not to overwhelm you as a facilitator as well, I always engouragr group discussion not bigger that 20 committed employees it might be 10-15 max then if it's a physical sitting of facilitation if it's in teams more than 20 can be overwhelming as well though you not seeing their faces it's can be bigger audience.

If the discussion is "starting to drag", my first question as a facilitator would be "Why?" Some possibilities: a) the issue has been resolved, there isn't anything more to say. So let's move on! b) participants don't feel comfortable sharing their opinions in the large group. In that case, we may break into groups to bring out more opinions. We also may need to do more to build trust -- such as using group agreements. c) The group is stuck. I'd say that directly, and give them some options of possible ways to get unstuck.

I would ask myself “why” the discussion is starting to drag. Reframe the problem, shift the discussion and restate the issue in a new angle. Maybe the goal has shifted- ask “are we aligned on the same goal or has it shifted?”

Keep the focus of the facilitation process by constantly reminding parties of set objectives and target goals. Constantly moderate discussions to fit within the predefined framework by parties. Stress the disadvantages of going off topic to the interests of parties.

I love giving space to people to voice their opinion and at the same time as a facilitator I am responsible to keep the conversation on topic. One simple, elegant and inclusive way is "Bringing us back to the original question/topic, .....". I use this often with different groups and it works pretty well as it is non-confrontative, it does not put anyone, who was off topic on the spot and it is a simple reminder of what we were talking about.

It happens as some people are not going towards a solution and may be dragging things not to be in the right direction. It requires a reorientation of the situation and examining the common interest points of all the stakeholders to engage towards a solution All have soft spots and all want things as per their liking but all at the same time know that everything is not possible as per what they want. Giving some and taking out the max is the key. This will create a conducive situation which in the long run will lead to a more fruitful outcome if not in the current case Keep analyzing and assessing the soft spots among the group and then exploit them not fully for the current situation but fully for the next one and that will surely come