Start a group discussion right and everything else will follow well
Here are three favourite warm-ups that set the group up for success
The Name Game
I’m rubbish at remembering names, so I started using this as a warm-up to help me, and then I realised that it’s a real icebreaker for the whole group. So, you ask a participant what their name is – let’s imagine it’s Kate…you then ask the group what ‘famous’ Kate – this respondent should be known as for the rest of the evening. They shout out Kate Middleton (for example), the group has a joke about it, and we move on to the next person. If you want to bond the group, and help everyone have permission to have fun, then the name game is great.
What kind of day have you had?
Asking this as an introductory question – tell us your name and tell the group what kind of day you’ve had…It really helps with empathy – helping to show respondents you care, helping you understand how to treat respondents, and run the group – it’s just a great way to start a group
The in-depth slow start
Some of the best groups I’ve run are where respondents have been given proper space and time to introduce themselves and their feelings about the topic we are about to discuss. It gives them time to find their voice, they know they are going to be listened to and it gives the moderator a chanced to really know everyone in the room. Be brave, take your time with the warm-up!