1

Group communication strategies

• Basic principles of communication.
• Role of the Chairperson.
• Facts versus received ideas.
• Collaborative techniques.
• Eliciting participation.

2

Addressing the Group

• Body language and congruence.
• Identifying and managing different behavioural styles.
• Handling stress.
• Using appropriate language style, pace and intonation.

3

Preparing the Meeting

• Location and creating the right atmosphere.
• Defining the agenda, objectives and priorities.
• Preparing and distributing adequate support material.
• Selecting the right people to help facilitate.

4

Being Chairperson

• Effective introductions.
• Chairperson as facilitator or leader?
• Making it a Meeting of Minds.
• Building trust and reconciling different styles and opinions.
• Maintaining open, clear and respectful exchanges.
• Suggesting alternative methods and procedures.
• Generating new ideas or approaches.
• Problem solving.
• Dispute resolution.
• Closing with a plan of action.
• Creating and maintaining group memory.
• Post-meeting evaluation.