Probably the hardest thing about facilitating is cutting off your friends when they’re rambling on ad infinitum and keeping a meeting from going too long or getting too lame. You can try telling them when they start speaking how much time they’ll have and give a hand signal when they’re short on time. Facilitating comes with practice, and is a valuable skill. In order for everyone to get experience with it we suggest you give this position to everyone at least once.
Here are additional meeting roles that can be very useful:
Vibes Watcher – A vibes watcher monitors how people are feeling to ensure that no one is being ignored or personally attacked. A vibes watcher must also be aware of people that are getting sleepy, restless, or generally just too unhappy to make decisions. The vibes watcher can remedy these situations by calling for short breaks, stretching exercises, or bring to the group’s attention the injustices s/he has observed. (Ex.: someone being ignored, men dominating the conversation, etc). This role is a perfect compliment to the facilitator’s role.
Time Keeper – A timekeeper pushes the group and individual speakers to stick to time limits.
Stack Keeper – keeps a list of people who want to speak. Makes the facilitator’s job easier when there are a lot of people, or a complicated discussion.
Scribe – takes note from brainstorms, discussion, and proposals and puts them on a chalkboard or big sheet of paper so that everyone can refer to them.
Note Taker – writes the official notes that can be sent out to the mailing list and kept in the group’s archives for future use.
