What Are You Hearing?

This technique provides an opportunity for quieter members to check in with the group by repeating or paraphrasing the words others are using.

Purposes

• To provide a nonthreatening opportunity for quieter members to participate without having to articulate an idea or take a stand on what has been expressed
• To practice listening and paraphrasing skills
• To identify recurring themes by noting which words and contributions get repeated or paraphrased most

How It Works

• The facilitator announces that during the discussion, nonspeaking members will be asked periodically to respond to the question, “What are you hearing?” They are told that this is a cue to repeat or paraphrase what others have said.
• As the discussion proceeds, the facilitator models this by summarizing words or phrases.
• When appropriate during the discussion, the facilitator or a member turns to a silent participant and asks, “What are you hearing?” That person is expected to repeat or paraphrase anything that comes to mind.
• The facilitator keeps track of what is said so she can reference them in her Facilitator Summary (technique 50) at the end of the discussion.
• As the discussion proceeds, the facilitator notes recurring themes and words identified in response to the question.

Where and When It Works Well

1. As a verbal word cloud. What people hear are comments that most attract their attention. Jotting down or typing these words means you can create an electronic word cloud that shows the discussion's recurring themes.
2. With those unused to discussion. Because participants are not asked to come up with original contributions or synthesize and extend other contributions, this is a nonthreatening way of getting introverts and ESL speakers to participate.
3. When it's important to hear from everybody. This is a good exercise to try if you as leader really do need to hear from everybody or if participants really do need to learn to speak up in groups.
4. Its clarity. Unlike more complex discussion protocols, moves, and roles, this is extremely simple. You only need to repeat something that someone else has said.

What Users Appreciate

1. Being heard. Participants sometimes feel affirmed when their ideas or words are recalled in response to the question.
2. Valuing listening as a form of participation. Participants who are mostly attentive listeners appreciate having that behavior underscored.
3. Group GPS. To have someone periodically indicate what is being heard can help a group see the trajectory of the members' discussion more clearly.
4. Spikes in participation. Because people don't want to be the ones left to paraphrase others' comments, there's sometimes an increase in their participation.

What to Watch Out For

1. Discomfort at being pounced on. Being asked this question can create anxiety and cause people to freeze, so facilitators have to model this first and allow plenty of time for people to respond.
2. Correcting perceptions. Accept whatever is said as an honest attempt to recall what was heard. Don't tell people they've missed or misheard important themes. It can be quite revealing if someone offers an interpretation that doesn't actually repeat or paraphrase previous comments.

Questions That Fit This Protocol

There's only one question for this exercise: “What are you hearing?”