The Role of the Discussion Leader There is no more important participant in a discussion than the person leading it. This role can be both challenging and rewarding. The discussion leader is the key to an open and productive conversation, enabling people to explore ideas and thoughts and seek common ground and understanding. Here are a few suggestions for bringing out a range of opinions, exploring the topic thoroughly, and encouraging a rich and lively discussion. If you are selected as the discussion leader, remember that a good leader serves as a facilitator rather than a lecturer, remains impartial, shows respect for all opinions, and does not use the position to influence the outcome of the discussion, creates opportunities for everyone to speak, helps participants look for common ground, but avoids pushing for a consensus, keeps the conversation moving and on track by occasionally summarizing points, and bringing the discussion back to the topic if it wanders unproductively, raises views that have not been considered by the group, asks questions that challenge old assumptions, deals effectively with any problems that arise and, if a ground rule is broken, asks the group to help re-establish the rules, and helps integrate outside experts into the conversation, so that their valuable knowledge contributes to the richness of the exchange of ideas but does not dominate the conversation. Next tip: Beginning the Conversation