1. Conflict Resolution Conflict is natural in any group setting. Effective facilitators are skilled in conflict resolution techniques, such as acknowledging the conflict, allowing each party to express their viewpoint, and guiding the group towards a mutually acceptable solution. This helps in maintaining a positive atmosphere and ensuring that conflicts do not derail the meeting.
2. Dealing with Dominant Participants Dominant participants can overshadow others and skew discussions. Facilitators can manage this by gently steering the conversation back to include quieter members, using techniques like round-robin sharing or explicitly asking for input from less vocal participants. This ensures a more balanced and inclusive discussion.
3. Managing Digressions It’s easy for discussions to go off-topic. Facilitators can use techniques like "parking lot," where off-topic items are noted down to be addressed later, or gently steering the conversation back on track. This ensures that the main objectives are not lost in tangential discussions.