Difficult-Groups Made Easier

Schefert is the owner of Leadership Tools, a consulting group focused on facilitation, strategic planning, and training.

Read more from Donna Rae Scheffert on the Washington Times Communities and at Online-Leadership-Tools. She can also be found on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Minimize Conflict in Groups

-Format rules for speakers-inform your speakers about your civility and time goals; share how you are going to monitor time as well as inappropriate comments

-Manage expectations of the participants-expectations are clear regarding the unacceptability of disrespectful an demeaning treatment; when policies or procedures are violated, consequences are followed through on by the group or moderator

-Use microphones strategically- the person with the microphone can control the room. Moderator always has microphone. If microphone is hooked to a sound system, it can be turned off in case of extreme incivility or time violations. If handheld microphones are used, assertive and strong people should hold the microphone and not give it to audience members.

-Record the meeting – announcing audio or video coverage increases accountability. Having people introduce themselves ‘on record’ prior to making comments is also useful.

-Questions in writing – If written and screened, the questions can be neutralized.

Adapted from McCorkle

McCorkle, Suzanne; Passion, Protest, or Just Plain Incivility?: Responding to Bad Behaviors in Public Meetings, A white paper prepared by Boise State University Public Policy Center, Nov. 2010

The Handbook for Working with Difficult-Groups

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