17 Oct 08 Tips to have successful group discussion

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I think most of you know that group discussion can gain more ideas, understanding and create more values. Most of the people practice this in School, University, Work and their religion activities. While we’re in mid of seeking knowledge, we use group discussion to learn faster, do more exercise, and also build up the “team player” minded. At work, we need group discussion in any matter to get consensus/common understanding with each Dept. In some religion, they practice this also to let more people get involved in sharing testimonies, teaching in their religion.

To have a successful group discussion is easy and simple,

Be prepared beforehand –

Everyone who attends the group discussion need to prepare the raw ideas, information, and related material before attend it. This may shorten the time of discussion and bring the MAX effect of it. At least people who are going to join the discussion need to understand the topic of the discussion.

Example: Read through the article/chapter, jot down all the queries, ask in the discussion and let everyone discuss about it, at the end, everyone understand it.

Create a relax environment –

Please do not ever use the statement below to stress your audience,
“Do you read the article/chapter before you come to this discussion?” (Maybe some of them forget to read it before hand)
“You should know you need to understand the article/chapter before come, right?” (Maybe they read it but not meaning they understand it)
“Do you prepare any question/sharing for tonight?” (They will feel tension when listen to this…)

We should let them feel relax, not being push to do anything in the discussion. Just talk about something funny and yet related to the topic of the day, ask some question like “do you see any funny thing on your way to here, Mind to share it?” Once in a while in the discussion need to make some joke and cheer them up, a long hour discussion will make people feel sleepy and can’t concentrate on the subject discussed.

Summary of the discussion –

Many of the people forget about this item, we need to summarize all the thing had been discussed. Let everyone have a glance back to the topic discussed.

Hopefully this simple tips can help you to hold a effective discussion.

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