Finding a Discussion Leader

Discussion leaders should have two qualities:

• They should care about the topic or question. Good leaders will be genuinely interested, think it is important, and believe it is worthy of open discussion. Resist the temptation to bring in a popular teacher or expert facilitator who is not interested in reflective conversation about the topic.
• They should have both the time and the personal integrity to do the work thoroughly. Resist the temptation to cajole the "perfect" person to do this despite their protestations about lack of time.
  
  

Beyond these basic qualities, there is no perfect discussion leader. Civic reflection can be facilitated by a broad range of persons, from scholars to adult educators to persons who are part of the group or organization being convened. Each of these types of discussion leader–scholar, adult educator, member of the group–can bring a valuable kind of wisdom to the conversation.

A scholar can bring wisdom about readings and knowledge of a larger world of ideas to a conversation. This is especially valuable in selecting texts, contextualizing them for the group, and pushing the conversation beyond the group's own experience.

An adult educator (or professional facilitator, mediator, etc.) can bring wisdom about group process. This is especially valuable in creating hospitable space for reflection and easing people's fears about academic performance.

A member of the group can bring wisdom about the common work and concerns of participants. This kind of wisdom is especially valuable for connecting the reading to the experiences of participants and assuring that the conversation feels relevant and useful. A member of the group can also bring people to the event by virtue of his or her "cachet."

Perfect is the person who possesses all three kinds of wisdom–and perfectly impossible to find! (However, if you know someone, please contact us immediately.) Instead of seeking perfection, trust your own perception: What kind of wisdom would matter most to the participants in your group? What would most help them to come… stay… participate… go deep?

A good idea is to use two discussion leaders who balance these qualities. The presence of co-facilitators also guards against the tendency of professors to "profess" and of participants to become passive in the presence of a single expert.

Contact us if you would like help locating a discussion leader near you.