stationary thieves :(

Eek! Another great reason to have a co-facilitator!

oh wow that's intense!

Embrace the awkwardness!

Things to consider when asking intentional, inclusive questions...

Simple shifts in format that create space for more voices...

What to include in advance communication to support participation?

Low participation isn’t just frustrating — it’s a warning sign. But if we understand why it’s happening, we can start designing spaces that make it easier to show up, speak up, and share the load.

🫀Capacity
Sometimes, it’s just about where people are at — individually and collectively.
• People are burned out or overstretched — they want to show up, but can’t offer more
• They don’t feel confident they “know enough” to contribute
• They’re too tired or overwhelmed to engage meaningfully

⚖️Power & Dynamics.
Power dynamics can show up when:
• Ppl aren't empowered to speak on behalf of their org
• Ppl feel unsure of their role or intimidated by others
• A few dominant voices take up space
• There’s a lack of diversity in the room, or microaggressions that make ppl feel unwelcome

⚙️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
Sometimes, the way the group meets doesn’t support participation. Eg:
• People don’t know what to expect
• The format doesn’t invite input
• Questions aren’t clear or feel too broad

I think it’s worth unpacking: why does this happen, even in groups full of passionate and committed people? From what I’ve seen (as both a facilitator and a participant), there are three main sets of reasons:

The top answer was 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁.
Not people failing to show up, but showing up and staying silent. No comments. No questions. Cameras off. No feedback.