Last week, we discussed steps you can take to set up a meeting that will stay on track. (See Keeping the Group on Track: Preventative Measures.) Despite all those steps, meetings can easily wander off course for one or more of these reasons:
Imagine that you are facilitating a preliminary discussion with your faculty about ways to trim the budget. Based on last week's discussion, you have posted the meeting purpose, desired outcomes, agenda, and a "parking lot," and you have established ground rules about staying on topic. Then, as the discussion gets underway, one teacher, Xavier, starts talking about how hiring practices are archaic.
Xavier makes his point: "The 'last in, first out' policy harms everyone."
As facilitator, you ask Xavier to relate his point to the topic at hand: " Xavier, I'm not sure I understand the connection between budget cuts and current hiring practices. Could you help me understand the connection?"
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Most likely, Xavier will either acknowledge that he was off the topic, or he will explain the linkage.
Getting a group back on track depends on your analysis of the each off-the-track situation. Some suggestions for getting the dialogue back on track include the following:
NEXT WEEK IN GREAT MEETINGS: Managing conflict in a group.
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COPYRIGHT 1996 - 2024 BY EDUCATION WORLD, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.