That awkward pause after a futures question? It’s not a problem to be fixed. It’s information.
When groups go quiet, it’s often because the question is stretching identity, not just opinion. Sometimes it’s because people are sensing risk in being wrong. And sometimes it’s because future being discussed feels too abstract or too close.
Of course, it could be because someone is feeling uncomfortable, or because of power dynamics in the room, or because they need more time to think. A good facilitator is keeping their eye on all these things.
Facilitation generally, and futures facilitation more specificially, shouldn’t rush to fill the gap. Instead, it adjusts the container: smaller groups, writing before speaking, concrete prompts, time to notice.
This can be challenging when working with groups of linear thinkers, who just want to “get the task done”, but sometimes, the best thing to do when faced with silence is to simply say, “Let’s give this a bit more time.”