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DISCUSSION PRINCIPLES
The following guidelines are courtesy of Deborah Deemer:

• I am critical of ideas, not people. I challenge and refute the ideas...but I don’t indicate that I personally reject them.
• I focus on coming to the best decision possible, not on winning.
• I encourage everyone to participate.
  
• I listen to everyone’s ideas even if I don’t agree.
• I restate what someone has said if it is not clear to me.
• I first bring out all ideas and facts supporting all sides, and then I try to put them together in a way that makes sense.
• I try to understand all sides of the issue.
• I change my mind when the evidence clearly indicates that I should do so.

Carol B. SchwalbeA sea lion rolls in the sand to remove flies.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN A DISCUSSION
Listen carefully. Tolerate opposing views. Suspend judgment until all sides have spoken. Realize that often there is no right answer or conclusion.

These suggestions are from R.G. Tiberius:

• Seek the best answer rather than try to convince other people.
• Try not to let your previous ideas or prejudices interfere with your freedom of thinking.
• Speak whenever you wish (if you are not interrupting someone else, of course), even though your idea may seem incomplete.
• Practice listening by trying to formulate in your own words the point that the previous speaker made before adding your own contribution.
• Avoid disrupting the flow of thought by introducing new issues. Instead, wait until the present topic reaches its natural end. If you wish to introduce a new topic, warn the group that what you’re about to say will address a new topic and that you’re willing to wait to introduce it until people are finishing commenting on the current topic.
• Stick to the subject and talk briefly.
• Avoid long stories, anecdotes or examples.
• Give encouragement and approval to others.
• Seek out differences of opinion; they enrich the discussion.
• Be sympathetic and understanding of other people’s views.