Despite the use of effective facilitation skills, various challenging behaviors can occur during a meeting. The following are some of the types of problems that could occur and suggested strategies for managing the behavior to ensure a positive meeting outcome.
Floundering (Slow, difficult progress)
Bring stray or disparate threads and lines of thought back together
Acknowledge the issue
Clarify current plan
Surface issue/questions
Solicit group input
Set direction
Disproportionate Influence (Participant with specialized or unique expertise that may drive discussion)
Acknowledge importance of expertise
Encourage expert to share/explain expertise with group
Ask group if jargon, technical expertise, or discussion is understood by all
Ask for data to support expert opinion
Acknowledge importance of balancing expertise and impact on group
Reinforce the need for full group participation
Dominating Participant
Structure discussion
Gate keep
Refocus on agenda and time
Use nominal techniques where appropriate (e.g., set time limits)
Reluctant Participant
Structure participation
Gate keep
Ask for specific input
Smaller discussion group when possible
Discounts and Attribution
Support the discounted person
Resurface comment for discussion or closure
Acknowledge pattern if it persists in group
Check attributions when they occur
Protect the absent
Digression and Tangents
Refocus discussion on agenda and time
Have written agenda for all to refer to in meeting
Acknowledge to group when off track, ask for help in staying on track
Gate keep
Surface issues related to difficulty staying on track
Feuding Team Members
If known conflict acknowledge prior to group meeting and get agreements
Acknowledge conflict if it occurs in group
Remind group to follow rules of engagement for healthy disagreement
Clarify the conflict
Ask for data to reduce emotions if relevant
Ask participants to take off line
Facilitate meeting for resolution if necessary
Follow up prior to next meeting