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Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part
5, Dominant Participants
By Steve Kaye
While dominant participants contribute significantly to the success
of a meeting,
they can also overwhelm, intimidate, and exclude others. Thus, you want to
control their energy without losing their support.
Approach 1: Ask others to contribute
Asking quiet participants to contribute indirectly moderates the more
dominant
participants. Say:
"Before we continue, I want to hear from the rest of the group."
"This is great. And I wonder what else we could do." (Look at the quiet
participants when you say this.)
Approach 2: Change the process
A balanced dialogue equalizes participation and sequential participation (a
round
robin) prevents anyone from dominating the discussion.
Approach 3: Include them in the process
Ask dominant participants for their support during the meeting. Meet with
the
person privately and say:
"I need your help with something. It's clear to me that you know a great
deal about this issue and have many good ideas. I also want to hear what
other people in the meeting have to say. So, I wonder if you could hold back
a little, to let others contribute."
You can also retain control by giving away minor tasks. For example,
dominant
participants make excellent helpers. They can distribute materials, run
errands,
serve as scribes, deliver messages, post chart papers, run demonstration
units,
operate projectors, change overhead transparencies, act as greeters, and in
general perform any logistical task related to the meeting.
Approach 4: Create barriers
Simply move away from the more aggressive participants and make less eye
contact. If you are unable to see them, you are unable to recognize them as
the next speaker.
Use this approach with moderation and support it with complimentary requests
for assistance. Ignoring someone conveys disapproval, which could change a
potential ally into an adversary.
Approach 5: One point at a time
Sometimes dominant participants will control a discussion by listing many
points in a single statement. They cite every challenge, condition, and
consideration known, which completely clogs everyone else's thinking. End
this by asking participants to state only one point at a time, after which
someone else speaks. It is very difficult to monopolize a discussion when
this technique prevails.
Quiet participants often hope to be ignored; dominant participants want to
be
noticed. A quiet person may feel overbearing after making two statements in
an
hour. A dominant participant may feel left out after contributing only 95%
of the
ideas. You will be most successful moderating dominant participants by
building
bridges between what they want and what you need.
Approach 6: Interrupt with "excuse me"
Use the words "excuse me" as a wedge to interrupt a long monologue. It's
important that you say "Excuse me" with polite sincerity. For example, you
could say:
"Excuse me, this seems interesting and I wonder if you could tell me how it
relates to our meeting."
"Excuse me, I'm sure this is very important and since we have only five
minutes left for this issue, I wonder if you could summarize your main
point."
Use these techniques to hold effective meetings by moderating contributions
from
the more outspoken participants.
This is the fifth of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.
About the author:
IAF Certified Professional Facilitator and author Steve Kaye works with
leaders who want to hold effective meeting. His innovative workshops have
informed and
inspired people nationwide. His facilitation produces results that people
will
support. Sign up for his free newsletter at
http://www.stevekaye.com.
Call 714
-528-1300 or visit his web site for over 100 pages of valuable ideas.
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