How participants can help
In your presentations and debates there may be individuals who are more inclined to participate and to offer their opinions and thoughts. These individuals tend to be more extrovert and social in group situations and/or have experience of participation in discussions within business. You should actively encourage their participation in order to promote an interactive environment. This will help others to feel more inclined to voice their thoughts and opinions and can help them to know what level of involvement is required.
Enabling skills and attributes may include:
good verbal skills
good listening skills (use active listening skills to clarify information)
sociable nature
relaxed and confident outlook (they may have already participated without
prompting)
experienced and knowledgeable in the subject-matter
positive thinking
open-minded
empathy for others and other situations.
From the identified individuals, with the skills and attributes you require, you can encourage positive energy within the group and an atmosphere for discussion and ideas. Some individuals may also belong to other work groups and networks that greatly increase their business awareness and influence for your creative discussions.
There may also be specific technical knowledge that is helpful for the communication or presentation, and you can draw on those individuals to explain and contribute on those aspects that you may not be so well versed on. Those with analytical and problem-solving skills can help encourage creativity in the group.
It is important to know your group, or individuals, so that you can make the creative discussions more fluid and productive for all. You may already know, and work with, individuals that can contribute with specific skills and attributes.
Individuals may include:
colleagues
community members
friends
interviewers (media)
investors
mentors
panels
peers
students
supervisors or managers.
If you do not know the group, or individuals, well enough to determine the skills that may be of help, take time at the beginning of your meeting/session to do this. You could informally chat to those that arrive prior to the scheduled time, or you could ask the group to perform a short activity or ice-breaker to assess their skills.
For example, set a challenge for individuals, or groups, to respond to and observe how they work through the process. Equally you could host an activity that requires verbal contributions such as working through a puzzle or a basic riddle that assesses abilities to contribute, think and question. If a much more formal approach is required, a simple asking the group to say who they are and where they are from, will help encourage participation.
Not only does this introduce a more social aspect, you can set the required tone for the type of creative thinking and solutions meeting that you need to perform.