Challenges in Group Discussion
If you are the leader of a group discussion, there are a number of challenges you will have to face. Being able to successfully overcome these challenges will mean the difference between the success and failure of your group.
The biggest challenges that you will face in group discussions are avoiding put-downs, connecting solutions, listening for data, and summarizing ideas. Being able to overcome these challenges will bring about successful group discussions.
Challenge 1: Avoiding put-downs are extremely important. Put-downs occur when members of the group ridicule the ideas that are presented by other members. When this happens, it can slow down the productivity of the group, and can stop other members for voicing their own ideas or solutions. One way to solve this problem is to make it clear at the beginning of the discussion that no put-downs are allowed. Let the members know that if they do not agree with an idea that has been presented, come up with a better idea and present it in a way that does not humiliate the person that they are in disagreement with.
Another way to avoid put-downs is to let members know that you appreciate their hard work. This will make the confident, and will encourage them to work harder.
Challenge 2: The next challenge that you will want to overcome is the connecting solutions or ideas. The goal of most group discussion is to solve a problem. This is especially true for companies that are trying to develop marketing strategies. In order for them to succeed, it is important for members to make connections regarding the information that is discussed. One common problem that is seen in group discussion is members who create new ideas instead of adding to an idea that has been presented by another member.
Often, these ideas will not be related to the other ideas that were raised. This is problematic, because a group will not be able to come up with a relevant solution to a problem if the members keep generating new ideas
The biggest challenges that you will face in group discussions are avoiding put-downs, connecting solutions, listening for data, and summarizing ideas. Being able to overcome these challenges will bring about successful group discussions.
Challenge 1: Avoiding put-downs are extremely important. Put-downs occur when members of the group ridicule the ideas that are presented by other members. When this happens, it can slow down the productivity of the group, and can stop other members for voicing their own ideas or solutions. One way to solve this problem is to make it clear at the beginning of the discussion that no put-downs are allowed. Let the members know that if they do not agree with an idea that has been presented, come up with a better idea and present it in a way that does not humiliate the person that they are in disagreement with.
Another way to avoid put-downs is to let members know that you appreciate their hard work. This will make the confident, and will encourage them to work harder.
Challenge 2: The next challenge that you will want to overcome is the connecting solutions or ideas. The goal of most group discussion is to solve a problem. This is especially true for companies that are trying to develop marketing strategies. In order for them to succeed, it is important for members to make connections regarding the information that is discussed. One common problem that is seen in group discussion is members who create new ideas instead of adding to an idea that has been presented by another member.
Often, these ideas will not be related to the other ideas that were raised. This is problematic, because a group will not be able to come up with a relevant solution to a problem if the members keep generating new ideas