If you spend much time in front of audiences, you know there are participants who are comfortable talking in front of others and there are participants who are uncomfortable or hesitant to do so. As a facilitator, let’s help those who need our encouragement. One way to do this is to watch for the nonverbal (body language) cues they are sending you.
Watch for the participant who has their elbow resting on the table with their hand raised ever so slightly. This raised hand can easily transition to resting against the side of their face. It’s the waffling back-and-forth of wanting to get your attention to speak but not sure they want to speak in front of others. When you see this happening, move your eye gaze to this person and extend the invitation to speak. If you know their name, call them by name and ask them to share. If you don’t know their name, simply keep your eye gaze on them and ask them if they have something they’d like to add to the discussion.
Another nonverbal cue to watch for is if someone has placed their fingers gently up to their mouth. This can be a signal that they have something to say but are reluctant to share. It’s as if they are trying to hold back the words with their fingers. If someone in the audience is doing this, call on them in the same way I described above. Your encouragement may be enough to get them to share their thoughts.
Facilitation is best when all voices are heard and some voices need your help to be heard!