How To Lead A Discussion

It is often said that if you want to make yourself heard and your presence felt, it is vital to take the lead. This statement is true for each and every aspect of life, particularly during a gathering or discussion. This way, you will not only be able to move ahead in life, but will also be able to bring a change with your thoughts and ideas. For this, you should be focused and extremely determined and should have a strong mind set. Once you are sure about your opinions, then only will you be able to voice out your thoughts and convince people regarding the same.

In every stream of life there are millions of people struggling to carve a niche for themselves. It totally depends on you whether you want to be just another face in the crowd or stand out as strong independent character. It is only those people who stand up for their beliefs and rights who bring about a change in the society. Such people are able to do so only because they can forward their thoughts among millions of others and lead discussions. In case you want to be one of them, read on. We have provided some very interesting tips on how you can lead a discussion and progress in life.

Leading Group Discussions

Whether in school or at office, do your homework well and explore the topic of discussion in detail. Jot down the important things or make a mental note and find out all the probable questions that you would probably face during the discussion. The more you know about the subject matter, the more confident you will feel, while facing the crowd.
The phrase “practice makes a man perfect” would probably sound like a cliché to some, but history has proved it time and again that the more you practice, the more perfect you get with your presentation. You can even have an imaginary presentation, wherein you make your speech in front of an imaginary crowd. You can even use a recorder to visualize how you present yourself and how much more you have to improve.
To start a discussion and keep it going, you should frame the correct questions for the participants. These questions should always be open-ended in nature, which allows the listeners to follow up with answers or further questions. They should never be limited to ones that can be answered by a simple “yes” or “no”.
As a leader, you should be well prepared with a list of questions, to shoot at the participants, one after the other. The main idea is for a constructive solution after a prolonged period of discussion. Apart from the big questions, the discussion should also have several smaller ones for each main question.
Make it a point that everybody gives proper reason and backup for his or her opinions. Nobody should give blank statements, without grounds to explain them. Try to infuse arguments, to keep the fire within the discussion burning, as this is the only way you can come to meaningful conclusions. Judge the pros and cons of every side.
Try to find a balance between the different types of personalities and give every person involved in the discussion a chance to speak out his or her thoughts. Particularly emphasize on the quieter participants and try to get them involved as much as the other members.
Finally, give a summary or conclusion for the discussion, based on evidences and verifications provided by the members.

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