Most workshops
move to discussion too quickly.
A question is asked.
And immediately,
people start talking.
Usually,
the fastest voices speak first.
The confident ones.
The extroverts.
The people most comfortable
thinking out loud.
And slowly,
the rest of the room
starts adapting to those ideas.
Even before they had time
to think for themselves.
This is one of the reasons
many group discussions feel shallow.
Not because people lack ideas.
But because the room
moved too fast.
Good facilitators know something important:
Thinking
and speaking
are not the same activity.
Some people think by talking.
Others need silence first.
That is why
one of the simplest improvements
you can make in a workshop is this:
Think alone first.
Before the discussion,
give people a few quiet minutes.
Write first.
Reflect first.
Organize thoughts first.
The quality of participation
changes immediately.
More people contribute.
Ideas become less repetitive.
The room becomes less dominated
by the fastest voices.
It also changes
psychological safety.
Because participants arrive in the discussion
already carrying a thought.
Not just reacting
to someone else’s confidence.
Silence can feel uncomfortable
for inexperienced facilitators.
It may feel like “nothing is happening.”
But often,
thinking is happening.
And thinking
takes time.
Many workshops confuse energy
with intelligence.
Fast discussion
is not always deep discussion.
Good facilitation
is not about making people talk faster.
It is about creating the conditions
for better thinking.
Sometimes,
the best thing a facilitator can do
is wait quietly.
Thank you.
And Free Palestine.