Discussions Avoiding Seven Pitfalls When Moderating

Moderating discussions requires experience and tact, because conflicts often arise in this context. And it’s not uncommon for the atmosphere to become tense—for example, because the discussion is getting out of hand, a participant is dominating the conversation, or an awkward silence has fallen over the room.

Executives, project managers, and “experts in …” often have to facilitate discussions. Conflicts frequently arise in these situations. This is especially true when these discussions involve opinion-forming and decision-making processes, and participants have differing perspectives on the topic at hand—for example, based on their experience or their role within the organization. It’s not uncommon for discussions to then get out of hand, frustration to set in, the mood to sour, and an objective exchange of views to become nearly impossible because factional thinking takes hold.