Tips for Leading Small Group Discussions

It is Sunday night and our Small Group has just completed the DVD section in this week’s study. Now it is time to open our workbooks and have time for DISCUSSION. But instead of healthy stimulating discussion, there is silence for what seems like an eternity! So how does a Small Group Leader facilitate thought provoking discussions instead of having the dreaded time of silence?

Here are a few tips to help as you navigate your way through discussion time.

• Know Your Material

If you are leading a group discussion, it is important to make sure you’re prepared before the discussion begins. Make a list of potential questions that may come up from the material, be prepared to share from your own experiences, and do extra research to help anticipate more in-depth questions.

• Ask Great Questions

The best questions to ask are those that are open-ended. Closed ended questions are generally not helpful in group discussions. The reason why open-ended questions are more effective is because they do not require a specific answer. Because they don’t require a specific answer, they will not place any limits on the discussion.

• Listen Attentively

First, there is nothing wrong with being quiet. At the same time, you don’t want to be too quiet. However, speaking too much is not recommended. Listen attentively before you speak and it is okay to allow other members to answer or respond.

• Redirect the Discussion

Dominant members are usually a part of Small Groups and they will be outspoken. They will be quick to let the other members know what they think. The quiet members are just the opposite. They will think and form ideas within their minds, and will not be quick to voice those thoughts to the group because they may be shy. As the leader, your goal is to help quiet members present their thoughts to the rest of the group. There are a number of things you can do to include quiet members into the discussion. You can present a question to the group and ask each member to answer it out loud, or you can ask all the member of the group to give their responses to a particular topic or idea.

• Affirm Members

If you don’t show the members that you appreciate the contributions they are making to the discussion, that will make them feel like they are not a valuable part of the group, and this could cause problems. Affirm members by saying, “That is a wonderful idea” or “your viewpoint is always so helpful to the conversation.”

• Use the Acceptance Rule

No matter what is said…Be careful not to judge someone based on their opinions or their personal beliefs. Remember, the real teacher is the Holy Spirit and people are at different places on the spiritual journey. The acceptance rule is “I will accept anyone wherever they are on their spiritual journey.” It would be a great idea to ask your members to commit to the Acceptance Rule before the discussion begins.

What ways have you used to help facilitate discussion in your Small Group?