Address Only One Topic At A Time

Offer a relevance check by asking, "Please help us understand, Louise, what connections you're making to the topic we are discussing." This request is made in an approachable voice, and sometimes, to the surprise of everyone, Louise will indicate how her comment relates. At other times she will say, "You know, it doesn't fit right now. I'll save it for later," thereby monitoring she own participation.

Stop and Redirect is a facilitator move to correct deviations from a process.

Stop and redirect by - in a credible voice - saying, "Jerry, please hold on to that idea. We will return to it in a moment."

Use the flip chart like a bullfighter's cape. Sam makes a comment (e.g., about cleaning the supply room), and the facilitator moves to the flip chart and writes "supply room" while saying to Sam, "Sam, I know there are several people interested in this. Let's put it here so we don't lose it. We'll come back to it later."

In this case, the facilitator has communicated respectfully, "Yes, it is important, but not now." Groups use a variety of strategies to accomplish this. They sometimes have a chart on the wall headed "Items to Come Back To," on which thoughts like this will be reported.