When do we feel energized by a conversation? Is it when we share thoughts about our to-do lists, upcoming events or people we know? Maybe. But more likely, it’s when we are authentic and have a chance to express our views on an idea. It’s when we feel heard. And when we listen to others’ ideas, we augment our thinking and feel we’ve learned something.
How do we create a warm, welcoming environment in our home that fosters a lively discussion in which everyone contributes? Sometimes a group has great chemistry from the start; it also can take time for a cohesive group to blossom. The good news is The Policy Circle Framework for Discussion provides plenty of easy steps to smooth the way for a balanced group dynamic and set your Circle up for rewarding conversations!
Drawing insight from Circle Leaders, here are a few tips and “success stories” to inspire you for your next meeting.
Take time to get to know each other. Getting to know each other before launching into a discussion helps establish community. Listening openly and honestly to what others have to say creates a respectful and inviting atmosphere.
- Circle Leader Deb P. says, “My co-leader and I wanted the women in our circle to feel more comfortable with each other. We spent our first meeting getting to know each other over a simple dinner and crowded around a table. We asked each woman to tell us about themselves. How do they spend their time? What is important to them? What are they passionate about and what do they hope to get from The Policy Circle? It was a great way to start to build trust and to develop a frame of reference and understanding for interesting conversation on policy over the past year.”
- Circle Leader Danica A. has a similar approach. At the beginning of her first meeting, she led the group in going around the table, with each member sharing a little bit about herself, sharing a general overview of her policy perspective, and what life experiences had shaped her thinking or led her to embrace free-markets.
- Circle Leader Anne asks women what lenses they wear when learning about an issue. Is it a concern for people with special needs or mental illnesses? Or the impact of policy on immigrants or children in poor communities? Understanding the angle, experience, or expertise that someone has helps to foster an enriching and open conversation.
Share your policy passions. This recent New York Times article exploring how millennials can have more engaging conversations begins with “uniting around a common interest,” something all Policy Circle meetings have in place.
Utilize the Roundtable Discussion Model, the part of The Policy Circle Framework that encourages everyone’s involvement. Circle leaders who carefully invite everyone to speak at least one time allows the quieter voices to be heard. The Liberty Fund utilizes the roundtable format in its conferences and believes this model, sometimes called the Socratic discussion, “is the most conducive to a full and open exploration of ideas.”
Allow time to socialize. Some Circle members have also found it effective to hold a meeting over lunch or dinner. Others gather in the morning over coffee or in the evening over drinks and appetizers.
Make new members feel welcome. As membership in the circle expands, it can be tough to be the new one walking into the room. Circle Leader Deb P. and her co-leader like to introduce themselves to a new circle member over coffee or tea, and spend some time getting to know each other. “We think it helps the new member to feel more at ease at her first meeting, and the co-leaders are better able to find points of connection between her and the existing members.”
For guidance on encouraging members to engage on the website or other social media forums, see The Policy Circle’s post, “Social Comfort and How to Get People Engaged.”
What have you found effective in your own meetings? What tips would you recommend to a woman hosting her first meeting, or a new member joining a discussion for the first time? Share with us in the comments section below.
It’s a movement!
Recommend a Circle Leader. Circles are starting in DC, in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arizona, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, and New York.
Start a Circle in your neighborhood. Add value in your community by giving women the facts and the space to strengthen their understanding of the issues.
Invest in The Policy Circle. Together let’s build a network of women who want to assume their civic duties and understand the impact of policy in their lives.
The Policy Circle is a 501(c)3 that provides a fact-based, nonpartisan framework that inspires women living in the same community to connect, learn about and discuss public policies that impact their lives. Women across the nation are taking a leadership role in public policy dialogue on what human creativity can accomplish in a free market economy.