Category: Discussion Leading
Four Things Questions Can Do
With the discussion surrounding Rob Bell, it occurs to me that questions could become an innocent bystander in the mess. Bell’s book apparently has some 350 questions, about half of which are in his now infamous book trailer (that is, my friends,...
Conversations that Count: The Body of Discussion
Improv theater, which encompasses comedy and dramatic theater, happens on a stage. That is, improve theater occurs within a defined space, and consequently within a defined time. As such, it is an “incarnational” media. Not surprisingly, discussion is equally embodied....
Conversations that Count: How Leaders Lead Discussions
*Note: After taking a summer break from this series, I am returning to it and will finish it this fall. For other posts in the series, see the bottom of this post.* The flexible nature of discussion presents an inherent...
Conversations that Count: The Rules of Discussion
“The codes is more what you’d call……guidelines.” Or so says the inimitable Captain Barbossa of Pirates of the Caribbean. When it comes to the rules of leading discussions, it’s an important truth to keep in mind: the excellent discussion leader...
Conversations that Count: The Merits of the Improv Analogy
One of the most difficult problems in any given discussion is identifying what “the right thing to do” is. The question is extraordinarily difficult because so much of the answer depends upon the particular circumstances of the group, the desired...
Fostering Conversations that Count: The Rules of Improv as a Model for Discussion
According to the roadmap for this series, this post marks the transition from Part One of the series to Part Two. Congratulations to me for making it this far, and thanks for all the encouraging feedback!! Ultimately, reading about being...
Responding to Readers: Pat Sikora on Setting Expectations in Discussion Groups
The extraordinarily entrepreneurial Pat Sikora takes on my thoughts about setting expectations in discussion groups. Regarding my point that discussion leaders should “be appropriately stern” with members who act out of line, Pat writes: However, I’m not sure I’d use...
Fostering Conversations that Count: Setting Clear Expectations
Most people, by and large, aren’t used to having discussions. They just aren’t. What passes for discussion in most workplaces, classrooms and small groups is opinining without critique. Very rarely do students actually engage each other in face-to-face conversation about...
Fostering Conversations that Count: Setting Clear Expectations
Most people, by and large, aren’t used to having discussions. They just aren’t. What passes for discussion in most workplaces, classrooms and small groups is opinining without critique. Very rarely do students actually engage each other in face-to-face conversation about...
Fostering Conversations that Count: The Crucial Role of Questions
When it comes to discussions, questions are king. I’ve already touched on (unexpectedly) the tension between questions and answers in a discussion. This last week, I spoke to educators at a Christian school–that very tension was one of the most...