Guiding Discussions#

Tags facilitation communication engagement time management session flow curriculum structure

Short Description#

Guiding discussions that stray from the planned course content while still respecting participant contributions in the Better Conversations course.

Also Known As#

Handling Tangents, Redirecting Conversations, Staying on Track

Context#

Applies to any module within the Better Conversations course where participant discussions may naturally deviate from the intended topic.

Problem#

How to effectively manage discussions that go “off-piste” (stray from the planned course content) in a way that is respectful of participant contributions while ensuring the session stays on track and meets its learning objectives.

Solution#

Use a combination of acknowledgment, brief exploration (if relevant), gentle redirection, a “parking lot” system, and/or private follow-up.

Forces#

  • Participant Engagement: You want to encourage active participation and value participant contributions.

  • Time Constraints: The session has a limited duration, and you need to make efficient use of time.

  • Learning Objectives: The session needs to cover specific content and achieve specific learning outcomes.

  • Respect: Ensure participants are heard and their comments respected

Implementation#

  1. Acknowledge and Validate: Acknowledge the participant’s contribution and validate its relevance to the broader theme of better conversations.

  2. Brief Exploration (If Relevant): If the tangent is somewhat related to the current topic and time allows, briefly explore it, drawing connections to the course content.

  3. Gentle Redirection: Use a bridging statement to steer the conversation back to the planned topic. For example: “That’s a really interesting point, and it connects to [related concept]. Let’s circle back to that later if we have time, but for now, let’s focus on…”

  4. “Parking Lot”: Offer to address the off-topic discussion point later in the session (if time permits) or in a separate “parking lot” document or forum.

  5. Private Follow-Up: If the tangent is highly personal or sensitive, offer to follow up with the participant privately after the session.

Examples#

  • Observation from CSV: “We went off-piste as the attendee wanted to consider the questions from the next module (p20)”

  • A participant raises a specific workplace conflict that is not directly related to the current exercise. The facilitator acknowledges the situation, offers general advice, and then redirects the conversation back to the planned activity.

Rationale#

This pattern is most useful to ensure that the session runs to time while providing value to the attendees.

Consequences#

  • Positive: Maintains participant engagement, respects participant contributions, and keeps the session on track.

  • Negative: Requires careful judgment and communication skills from the facilitator. May leave some participants feeling unheard if not handled sensitively.