1 Moderating for Deliberation

2 What Does Moderating for Deliberation Mean? Any experienced moderators or facilitators? Moderating for deliberation –Choice work, not brainstorming actions –Common ground for acting (together and individually), not voting –Identifying what’s valuable to people and the tensions between values; the struggles –Understanding the issue from other people’s perspectives –Finding trade-offs

3 Resources on Moderating for Deliberation Your notebook – Section 3 Your NIF Moderator’s Guide for the issue Guidelines poster Reflections poster The issue guide Practice forum on training Day 2

Stages in a Deliberative Forum Stage 1 – Opening Stage 2 – Deliberation Stage 3 – Reflections / Closing 4

5 Purpose of the Deliberative Forum We must talk/understand together before we can act together. Get to common ground for action. Moderators can use selected comments from p. 2 in the forum introduction.

6 Compromise Consensus Common Ground for Action Mutual concessionsMutual agreementMutual understanding Get the best dealAgree on actions, even if not on values Agree on underlying values End with “what’s best for me” End with solidarity or conformity End with stronger connections; the public good Leads to individual, self-interested action Leads to unified, homogeneous action May lead to public action Leads to hardening of positions Leads to group thinkLeads to mutual understanding of differences Is constructedIs artificialIs organic Success = each satisfied with costs and benefits Success = general agreement on what to do Success = mutual understanding; creates possibilities

7 Preparing to Moderate Preparation = relaxation 1.Keep in mind the moderator’s purpose. 2.Remember the purpose of the deliberative forums. 3.Get to know the materials.

4.Study the framework. –What is truly at issue – the problem behind the problem? –What are the key arguments for and against each option? 8

5.Prepare remarks for Stage 1 – Opening –Introductions –Setting the stage for deliberation –Recording –Reporting –Guidelines / Ground Rules poster –Personal Stake icebreaker 9

6.Prepare remarks for Stage 2 (deliberation of each option) 7.Prepare questions for Stage 2 (encourage deliberation) –Values (appeals & concerns) –Consequences, costs/benefits –Tensions/dilemmas/conflicts between values –Common ground for action 10

8.Prepare comments/questions for Stage 3 (Reflections / Closing) –Approximately 20-25% of the forum –Reflect on what has been accomplished Recorder reviews the flipchart recordings –Discover the shared sense of purpose –Complete the post-forum questionnaire 11

9. Know the community & potential participants. 10. Coordinate with others. 12

Conducting the Forum Checking in - active listening & paraphrasing Difficult participants –Gradual escalation –Tactful –Moving closer –Assertive verbal techniques –Ground rules –Redirection 13

14 Moderator Behaviors Remain neutral. Do not take on the expert role. Bring comments back to the options when comments go astray. Keep discussion on the issue, not personalities. Be courteous and fair. Give equal time to approaches. Be patient. Model listening behavior.

15 Encourage everyone to join the conversation. Let the group make up its own mind. Redirect comments to the group. Use conflict productively. Use tension among things held valuable to find trade-offs. Invoke the guidelines as needed.

16 Communicate in advance and during the forum with: –Convener(s) Purpose of forum Post-forum reporting Sponsors –Recorder(s) Moderating style Recording style / role of the recorder

17 Some Final Tools Suggested Moderator Questions Stay on Track worksheet Ways to Spot Deliberation “Guidelines” poster ( suitable for enlargement ) Observing a Forum / Listening for Deliberation

18 Questions?