Greater Philadelphia Thinking Society Leadership Development: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Leadership Development:

Choosing Topics and Leading Discussions 11/12/2016

Greater Philadelphia Thinking Society

Leadership Event Notes

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 Orientation  Selecting Discussion Topics  Preparing a Discussion  Leading a Discussion  Handling Challenges  Responsibilities  Scheduling Events (optional) Agenda

GPTS Leadership Development

Agenda

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 Introduction of organizers and leaders  Participant introductions

How many Thinking Society Meetups attended? What discussion topics did you like best?

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Orientation

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 Mission Statement

Mutual improvement and understanding are the basis for any significant change, and as such, our mission is to foster intellectual dialogue.

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Orientation

A FORUM FOR THE EXPLORATION OF IDEAS in the Philadelphia area

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 Objectives

To provide opportunities for interactive group learning To bring together groups of people of diverse interests for stimulating and civically minded small-group discussions To provide larger meetings and social events where people can share ideas and get to know each other

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Orientation

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GPTS Leadership Development

Orientation

Leadership Team (31) Group Members (>4440)

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Organizing Team (4)

 An all-volunteer Meetup group  686 Meetup events held since 2007

 The Organizing Team

Joe Navidi CJ Fearnley Sandy Catz Andrea Buonincontro

 Scheduling Assistant

Diann Brown

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Orientation

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Andrea Andrew Brian L. Brian W. Chris CJ Connie Diann Elaine

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Orientation

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 The Leadership Team

Emily Greg Helen Ian Janice James Jean Joe John Lee LY Lynn Lynne Marc Martin Patty Rose Sandy Susan Susana Sydney Vanessa    … and growing

 New discussion leaders

Work with a mentor Create new discussion topics Prepare resource materials Serve as co-leader while they gain experience as leader and facilitator Some continue as co-leader

 Experienced leaders

Create topics and lead independently Lead often – every other month, if possible

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Orientation

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 Fields we cover

Physical, Natural, and Social Sciences Technology and Design Current Events and History Philosophy and Religion Politics and Government Business and Economics Culture, Literature and Art Education Personal Development, Health and Wellness

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Selecting Discussion Topics

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 What fields interest you?  What do you know most about?  What else do you know about?  What would you like to learn more about?  What issues are you passionate about?  How can we change the conversation and inspire action to improve the world?

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Selecting Discussion Topics

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 Selection Criteria for Topics

Accessibility Diversity Depth Breadth

 Interdisciplinary topics are popular  You don’t need to be an expert

But you DO need to be prepared

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Selecting Discussion Topics

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“You teach best what you most need to learn.”

• Richard Bach, Illusions : The Adventures of a Reluctant

Messiah (1977)

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Selecting Discussion Topics

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 What topics would you like to lead?  What would you like to learn about?

Topics you would need to study up on to lead Topics you would like others to lead Build bridges between islands of knowledge Brainstorming approach Write ideas down

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Selecting Discussion Topics

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 Refer to online guidelines

 See the Pages menu of our Meetup home page “Discussion Leader Guidelines” “Possible Discussion Topics”

 Schedule a topic

New and infrequent leaders create topics with an Organizer or mentor who schedules the Meetup Experienced leaders pick an open date from the Meetup calendar and schedule it with Diann

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Preparing a Discussion

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 Wording of the title

Short title with subtitle recommended Like a newspaper headline Limited to 72 characters

 Write an event description draft

First 3 or 4 lines also serves as preview Background information and summaries of recommended resource materials Hyperlinks to online articles and videos Mentor reviews draft for new or infrequent leaders

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Preparing a Discussion

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 The mentor or scheduler sets up the event page

At least 3 weeks before the event Enters the event title Authorizes leader/co-leader as Event Hosts

 Event Host enters the event description

Links to optional external references Discussion questions

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Preparing a Discussion

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 NEVER click the “Announce Meetup” button

This box appears when you edit the event

description:

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Preparing a Discussion

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We never “announce” our events because Meetup would immediately send thousands of emails before RSVPs are open.

 Starting the Meetup

“Welcome to the Greater Philadelphia Thinking Society – a forum for the exploration of ideas” Upcoming Thinking Society Meetups

• Date, title, leader, and number of RSVPs open

Title and brief intro of today’s topic (2-3 minutes)

 Participants introduce themselves

Ask an easy question (optional) 2-minute limit per person; 20 minutes total Defer discussing issues raised during introductions

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Leading a Discussion

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 Ground rules – reading is optional

Speak one at a time – Don’t interrupt Be respectful when you disagree

• Don’t argue or debate
• Don’t proselytize or preach
• It’s fine to state your position strongly but

do not insist that all others are wrong Don’t sell or promote a company or services

 Answer questions

But don’t start a ground rules discussion

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Leading a Discussion

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 Introduce topic

Use your own style – the following are suggestions: Brief summary of topic or first issue to discuss

• Keep your remarks short: 2 to 5 minutes
• This shows that you expect the group to do

most of the talking Don’t present a detailed agenda

• Stay flexible
• Tailor agenda to fit the interests of the group

 Start discussion with a prepared question

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Leading a Discussion

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 Facilitation

Encourage participation by all Raise hands unless group is very small Decide who speaks next (and next) Keep conversation on topic, respectful and exploratory Ask questions you prepared about materials you posted Enforce the ground rules

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Leading a Discussion

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 Discussion leader and/or facilitator?

Experienced leaders usually do both Less-experienced leaders can co-lead

 No lectures  No preaching  No speeches  The leader is not the teacher

Interactive group learning means participants do most of the talking and learn from each other

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Leading a Discussion

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 Suggested facilitation techniques

Acknowledge a good point or good question

• It encourages participation if you’re honest

Discourage interruptions

• But allow clarifying questions

The facilitator should interrupt if a speaker talks too long – especially repeatedly

• Interrupt with a one-sentence summary or ask

a summarizing question

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Leading a Discussion

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 More facilitation tips

If you have an answer or idea, pause to give

• thers a chance to speak first

Ask what others think of a controversial statement

Ask about relevant personal experiences Ask about expert opinions and sources Ask for explanations of complex issues Ask for definitions of unusual terms

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Leading a Discussion

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 Large groups in noisy rooms

At Starbucks, use the left side of the lobby (viewed from Starbucks)

• There’s an alcove that’s slightly quieter

Ask anyone who speaks softly to speak up

• More than once, if necessary

Ask people to move closer together

• Remove any unneeded tables and chairs

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Handling Challenges

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 Enforcing the Ground Rules

On first offense, read or explain the applicable rule Avoid long discussions of ground rules Ask if the rule breaker understands Ask for agreement to abide by the rule For minor offenses that are not disruptive, be tolerant Get the focus back on the topic

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Handling Challenges

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 How to prevent or stop arguments

Differences between “discuss” and “argue”

• No winners or losers in discussions
• More heat than light in arguments

Challenge everyone to listen and understand

• ther points of view

Acknowledge that differing points of view have been heard and understood (when that’s true) Acknowledge the speaker’s right of expression Acknowledge the speaker’s sincerity and passion

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Handling Challenges

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 Attitude problems

Arrogance, self-righteousness, over-confidence

• Respectfully ask for reasons and evidence
• Focus on issues, not personalities or authorities
• Some arrogance is tolerable if it does not intimidate

Negative attitudes

• Hyper-criticism (devil’s advocate)

Discrimination

• Do not tolerate disparaging statements against any

race, gender, class, minority or other group

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Handling Challenges

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 Emotional Outbursts

Some emotional expression is tolerable if it…

• Demonstrates the strength of one’s convictions
• Doesn’t last long or get revved up
• Doesn’t upset other participants

If emotions start to get out of control, stop discussion until everyone calms down After an emotional outburst that is disruptive…

• Refocus on the issue
• Ask about facts, evidence and reason, not opinions

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Handling Challenges

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 Angry outbursts

 Remain calm, don’t raise your voice  Acknowledge that the speaker is angry  Acknowledge his or her right to be angry  Don’t argue or allow others to argue with the offenders

 Don’t tolerate…

 Repeated disruptions  Intimidation  Abusive language  Threats (implied or direct)

 As a last resort, ask offender to leave

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Handling Challenges

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 Discussion leader or co-leader

Creates discussion topics Writes event description Provides resource materials Prepares and asks discussion questions Presents key ideas and summaries

 Facilitator

Encourages everyone to participate Keeps conversation flowing and respectful

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Responsibilities

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 Administrative responsibilities

Organizers reserves dates and post titles Leaders or mentors post event descriptions Organizers manage RSVP and waitlists Leaders make announcements at Meetup Leaders take attendance and update records Leaders report problems to Organizers

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Responsibilities

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 Mentoring program

Help as long as required with

• Topic selection
• Preparation of event listing
• Online posting

Help from organizers or experienced leaders Mentors may serve as co-leaders

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Responsibilities

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 Discuss level of interest  Select first discussion topic  Schedule first date to co-lead  Select or request mentor

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Selecting Events (optional)

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