How to Generate Group
Discussions at Meetings

Boy, did I look stupid! I was facilitating my first sales training class back in 1994. The course had 30 minutes earmarked for a group discussion. So I asked, "Does anybody have a question?"

You could hear a pin drop. The room was silent except for the rapid beating of my heart. So I asked, "What's your best technique for selling accessories?" That generated a dozen answers. We soon had an enthusiastic discussion about sales techniques.

By asking better question, I was able to generate a great group discussion.

When people attend a meeting, they want to be heard. They want their ideas to be discussed and respected.

Promoting group discussions makes your presentations more interactive, allows you to generate better group decisions and improves your team's performance.

More than a decade later, I've developed a list of questions to stimulate group discussions. I also have a list of key phrases you can use to steer the conversation back on track, deal with someone who is dominating the meeting and transition from one topic to another.

Ten questions that generate group discussions:

1. How do you feel about that?

2. What do you think about this idea?

3. How can you apply this technique in your work life?

4. How can you apply this idea in your personal life?

5. Who has faced a challenge like this before? (Show of hands)

6. How does this new idea (or product, or policy) affect your day-to-day work life?

7. How does this affect your personal life?

8. How does this affect your team/department/division?

9. What impact does this have on your clients?

10. What impact does this have on your industry?

Five additional questions you can use to encourage active participation:

• What methods can you use to overcome this problem or challenge?

• What else can you try?

• Who else can help you?

• Why are you hesitating to ask for assistance?

• How can you lead your team through this challenge?

Three phrases you can use to steer the conversation back on track:

• And, on that note... (refocus the conversation back on track)

• As a reminder, we want to focus upon...

• That's a great comment and we will cover that in depth later in the program. But right now, let's focus upon...

Three phrases you can use if someone is dominating the conversation:

• That's a good point for a future seminar. Let's discuss it after this current session is over. (i.e. make it a "Parking lot" item)

• Thank you for contributing that. While it is outside the scope of today's program, I can follow up with you after the session.

• Let's hear from someone who has not had an opportunity to speak yet. (Now, direct a question by name to someone who HAS NOT spoken very much.)

Five phrases you can use to segue way from one topic to another:

• And, to build upon that (previous idea)...

• In addition...

• On a related topic...

• On a different topic...

• Now it is appropriate for us to look at...

Use questions and phrases like these to stimulate group participation during meetings. It will make your presentations more interactive, allow you to generate better group decisions and improve your team's performance.

Related tips:
This article gives tips on how to energize your audience and eliminate disruptions. This related story shows how to avoid disaster when giving joint sales presentations.