Meetings are often just a waste of time because they do not have clearly defined agendas, there are too many participants and no conclusions or further steps are agreed upon at the end. We have already written about these problems many times. Today we will focus on another cause of ineffective meetings - a dominant speaker.
A dominant participant who doesn't let others say a word not only spoils everyone else's mood, but also complicates the whole process of negotiation. These speakers usually prolong meetings while others are bored. The other participants are forced to listen to the dominant person repeating the same things without a chance of getting a word in edgewise. These meetings then lead to solutions that do not reflect the views of the entire group. Do you want to know how to rein in the speaker, but to do it tactfully so that neither he nor the others have to feel bad? You have to become a better facilitator.
Facilitation is used in management to achieve group goals. It is being applied especially in team gatherings and meetings that are lead by facilitators. Their job is to moderate the discussions and manage the course (not content) so that the groups work more efficiently and make better decisions. Practical facilitation recommendations for the cases when discussion is dominated by one speaker who does not want to stop talking were published on TLNT.com.
Thank him and ask for the opinions of other participants
Example: "This is a great idea. What do other people think?"
Use your body language at the same time. Look the speaker in the eye, smile, nod your head to show you understand his proposal and then turn to the others.
Call somebody else by name to join in the discussion
Example: "John, what do you think?"
Interrupt long monologues
Example: "I'm sorry to interrupt you, but let me ask you about what you just said."
At the same time, interrupt eye contact and turn your body to the others. Use the interruption to start a broader discussion.
Example: "Let's hear more opinions. We've heard that ... What do others want to say?"
Call the dominant speaker by name
Example: "Tom, please let me ask the others how they see the opportunities you described."
-kk-