Last updated on Jul 11, 2024

Here's how you can navigate diverse perspectives in the innovation process as a large group facilitator.

Navigating diverse perspectives is a crucial skill for large group facilitation, especially in the innovation process. As a facilitator, your role is to guide a group through the complexities of brainstorming, decision-making, and problem-solving while ensuring that every voice is heard. Innovation thrives on a multiplicity of ideas and experiences, but without careful management, this diversity can lead to conflict or paralysis rather than productive dialogue. By employing strategies to foster inclusivity and collaboration, you can help your group harness their collective wisdom and drive innovation forward.

1 Build Trust

Establishing trust is the bedrock of effective group facilitation. When participants feel safe and respected, they are more likely to share their unique perspectives. Start by creating a welcoming environment where all contributions are valued. Set clear guidelines for interaction that promote mutual respect and encourage open communication. Acknowledge the diversity within the group and demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity by actively listening and validating different viewpoints. This foundation of trust will empower participants to engage fully in the innovation process.

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Cary Lopez, PhD

Human-Centered Consultant, Strategist & Change Expert | CPA, PMP, CCMP, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Certified Facilitator, Organizational Communication
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As the late great psychologist Judith Glaser is famous for saying, "Words create worlds." We very rarely state out loud the ways we will treat each other. Instead, we often assume that we know how to be good humans together, interact in an equitable and just way, and collaborate. Rather than leave it to chance, share a set of "Space Maker" statements that set the tone for the group. Some of our favorites include, "Be present: commit to focusing on your interactions and limit digital distractions" and "Listen to understand, not to judge". Ideo has a set of example ground rules, as does Liberating Spaces and other facilitation methods and techniques. Craft your own set, and share at the beginning of the session/workshop.

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2 Encourage Equity

To ensure that diverse perspectives are not just heard but also given equal weight, actively work to balance participation. Be mindful of power dynamics that may cause some voices to dominate the conversation. Use facilitation techniques such as round-robin sharing or small group discussions to give everyone a chance to contribute. Encourage quieter members to speak up and politely limit those who may be more vocal. By fostering an equitable environment, you create space for a wider range of ideas, which is essential for innovation.

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Cary Lopez, PhD

Human-Centered Consultant, Strategist & Change Expert | CPA, PMP, CCMP, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Certified Facilitator, Organizational Communication
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Do you know what the most powerful tool is in your facilitation toolkit for creating equitable interactions and balancing power dynamics? The humble sticky note! That 3x3 inch square of paper (or digital paper, if you're using digital tools!) enables SO much. First, it forces conciseness - you have to get to the essence of what you're saying. Second, it anonymizes - especially in large groups, people quickly lose track of who wrote what or where it was placed. Third, it equalizes - EVERYONE's sticky note is the same size, and everyone takes equal space. Finally, it makes the abstract concrete - it lets you write down and put into concrete being an abstract thought or concept. If in doubt, use sticky notes (real or digital)!

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3 Manage Conflict

Diverse perspectives often lead to disagreement, which can be constructive if managed well. As a facilitator, your role is to steer conflicts towards resolution and learning. When tensions arise, address them promptly and with a focus on finding common ground. Encourage participants to express their concerns and explore the underlying interests behind their positions. Facilitate a dialogue that seeks to understand and integrate differing views, turning potential roadblocks into opportunities for innovation.

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Cary Lopez, PhD

Human-Centered Consultant, Strategist & Change Expert | CPA, PMP, CCMP, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Certified Facilitator, Organizational Communication
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As a newbie facilitator, conflict in a group terrified me. In my mind, conflict = bad, and needed to be resolved as quickly as possible. However, conflict often arises out of passion: people rarely disagree about things they don't care about. It's extremely rare that people are jerks without a reason, or instigate conflict just to be disagreeable. When things escalate, pause for a moment and allow each side to share their perspective, focusing on trying to get to the WHY: why do they care so much? What's in it for them? Encourage them to tell a story about the topic. As each is talking, capture the important parts on sticky notes or poster paper and reflect them back. Then ask them to find differences and commonalities. What can they learn?

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Bonnie Wilde

building inclusive communities, access, equity and excellence | avid hiker | aspiring world traveler
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I often sum it up with, "It wouldn't be so hard if we didn't care about it." It depends on what the conflict is for me. If it's people disagreeing about how to fix or build something, then it's a matter of experience that comes into play, and someone probably has a way of solving/building that has worked for them and can't see another way of doing it. Often, someone has more perspective or thinks it's an easy-to-solve issue if you just did 'X' but others didn't know 'X' was possible.

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4 Harness Creativity

Creativity is the lifeblood of innovation, and a group's diversity is a potent source of creative potential. Design activities that encourage creative thinking, such as brainstorming sessions or design thinking workshops. Use techniques like mind mapping or SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse) to help participants think outside the box. Celebrate unconventional ideas and use them as springboards for further exploration. By valuing creativity, you tap into the group's collective imagination.

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5 Synthesize Ideas

With a plethora of perspectives and ideas on the table, your task is to help the group synthesize these into actionable insights. Guide them through processes that prioritize and refine concepts, such as multi-voting or affinity diagrams. Encourage the group to look for patterns and connections between ideas, and collaboratively develop criteria for evaluating them. This synthesis phase is critical in moving from divergent thinking to convergent action, paving the way for innovation to take shape.

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6 Implement Decisions

Finally, transition from ideation to implementation. Facilitate the development of a clear action plan that reflects the group's collective decisions. Assign responsibilities and set timelines to ensure accountability. Keep the momentum going by establishing follow-up procedures and celebrating milestones. By effectively guiding the group from diverse perspectives to concrete actions, you not only foster innovation but also build a sense of shared accomplishment.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Here's how you can navigate diverse perspectives in the innovation process as a large group facilitator.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Build Trust

2 Encourage Equity

3 Manage Conflict

4 Harness Creativity

5 Synthesize Ideas

6 Implement Decisions

7 Here’s what else to consider

Large Group Facilitation

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Here's how you can navigate diverse perspectives in the innovation process as a large group facilitator.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Build Trust

2 Encourage Equity

3 Manage Conflict

4 Harness Creativity

5 Synthesize Ideas

6 Implement Decisions

7 Here’s what else to consider

Large Group Facilitation

Rate this article

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