Think moderating a focus group is as easy as carrying on a conversation? It's not as simple as you might think. Whether you're an expert or a beginner, preparation and concentration are essential to keeping your meeting purposeful, on track and professional.
Here are 6 tips to help ensure a successful focus group meeting and how to put them into practice.
| Your focus group challenge |
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Tips for success |
| Put people at ease
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- Welcome participants with a handshake.
- Offer them food or a beverage.
- Invite them to ask questions.
- Thank them for coming.
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| Set expectations
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- Review ground rules before you start.
- Post the agenda.
- Explain the reason for the session.
- Ensure confidentiality.
- Reassure participants that their opinion counts and that there are no wrong answers.
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| Engage participants
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- Call on participants by name.
- Ask follow-up questions.
- Invite others to comment or to share a relevant story.
- Record the answers on a flip chart or shared screen to prompt others' thoughts.
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| Keep the session on track
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- Regularly refer to the discussion guide or presentation.
- Allow tangents and detours, but bring the discussion back to the main topic.
- Diplomatically interrupt those who speak too long.
- Ease tension with a joke and redirect the conversation.
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| Use active listening skills
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- Maintain eye contact.
- Listen to what participants are saying.
- Ask follow-up questions to get more in-depth information.
- Give everyone a chance to talk.
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| Practice before the session
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- Get comfortable with the discussion guide.
- Practice asking questions out loud.
- Arrive a few minutes early to relax and reflect upon your role.
- Brainstorm potential issues in advance and how you might address them.
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