Following are some of the activities of facilitators during meetings:

• Get the meeting started
• Encourage communication and involvement of all members
• Ask team members for opinions and feelings to encourage discussion
• Ask for a summary of the discussion
• Paraphrase what someone has said to help members understand each other
• Ask for specific examples to improve understanding
• Clarify assumptions
• Ask for explanation in order to eliminate confusion and repetition
• Probe an idea in greater depth
• Suggest a break or rest
• Move the team toward action
• Poll members
• Encourage open-mindedness
• Recommend a process
• Stop discussion to focus on team feelings
• Encourage greater participation
• Reflect for the team what someone else is feeling
• Redirect/Refocus to get back on track
• Surface differences of opinion
• Check team progress
• Encourage new thinking
• Explore potential results
• Test for consensus of the team
• Handle consensus blockers
• Move toward decision

Source: The Team Building Tool Kit: Tips, Tactics, and Rules for Effective WorkPlace Teams

Questions or Comments?