Group discussion tasks involve many roles for the participants to take up. Choosing any role, each participant can perform multiple functions. Any discussion starts with an initiative made by one. Someone should propose the subject with his/her ideas or procedures. This gets the group started. Since getting started on any task is usually difficult, this is an important role. Inevitably he/ she who does this takes up the presiding or leading role. Further he needs to produce new ideas and perspectives for the continued life of a group.
Okay. You missed the opportunity. Someone, a more tactful candidate has taken up the lead role. What is left for you?
There are still ways.
You can furnish more information by usurping his place. You can politely interfere giving evidence, opinions and relate experiences, personal or others, relevant to the discussion. In fact the quality of the discussion is dependent on the information generated out of the discussion. The more information you provide on the subject, the more prominent your place will become in the group.
Okay. You missed this opportunity too. A vociferous participant has stolen the show. All have nothing to do except to listen. The best way is to play the role of an information seeker thereby making your participation important. By way of asking information from others and seeking clarification one can make his participation felt.
There are various ways to make your presence important. Instead of just presenting information one can strongly present his own point of view. Usually people will not reveal their opinions out of fear of criticism. But an effective presenter expresses the opinions freely and is prepared to invite argument to his side. By stating one's own beliefs, attitudes and judgments, one can take up a main position in the discussion. But you must ensure that your opinion is on the winning side and there is nothing negative in your opinion because a negative opinion is disliked by others.
Another role left for you is this:If youl cannot make up your position , prevail upon the opinions of others. The effective participant actively seeks other's attitudes and convictions, especially of those members who are hesitant to speak. Unlike others who are content with presenting their own views and neglecting other opinions you will win the favour of other participants by seeking their opinions.
There is always room for participation if you elaborate the ideas of others and clarify as well as expand the opinions of others through relevant examples and explanations. This is the best way to attract the attention of the rest.
Slow and steady, you can win the race. If you have not yet got an opportunity, take up the role of integrator who classifies the relationships between various facts, opinions and suggestions and integrates the ideas of others thereby assuming the main role of presenter. After a considerable time has been spent on discussion, the need for integrating and summarizing all that transpired so far becomes essential. You can do that by way of orientation, that is, by keeping the group directed toward its goal, by summarizing what has taken place and clarifying the purpose or position of the group. Essentially you insure that the group has a direction and also that it heads in the "right" direction and assumes the role of a leader.
There are some more ways in which the participants can take up group maintenance. You should make your presence important by initiating the group's interpersonal relationships. An encouraging speaker is always liked by fellow participants. He praises and agrees with others providing a warm support to others. But one ought to be careful because he who is a contestant should maintain his position keeping his attention on excelling others. Similarly your sense will be appreciated if it does relieve tension. It will be very much appreciated as you create a relaxed atmosphere by reducing formality and interjecting humor. When tension increases, people become emotionally involved which will not be conducive for smooth discussion. At times the role of pacifying others and providing relief will achieve leadership position. Equally important is the role of one who controls the channel of communication providing proper balance in the amount of participation of each member. You can also gain the leading position by encouraging those who might otherwise not speak while tackling those who tend to dominate over others or monopolize the discussion
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