Level 1 — Breaking the ice and interactive introductions
Focusing on opening, introducing participants and creating a safe space for dialogue with ground rules for the discussion.
You are opening a group discussion with people meeting for the first time and you need to break the ice.
Group members introduce themselves to one another interactively before diving into the main topic.
You are managing a quick round of introductions for a group of ten people.
Level 2 — Managing the flow of solo speech
You manage the flow of conversation among several participants who are all eager to participate at the same time.
You notice a participant who hasn't spoken yet and try to involve them gently.
You take a brief note while a participant speaks without losing engagement.
Level 3 — Structuring the discussion
Learning to move smoothly between discussion topics and keep to each segment's time.
Smoothly transition from one discussion point to another while sticking to the allocated time for each.
The discussion drifts away from its main topic and you must bring it back politely.
You explain the basic discussion rules to the group before starting.
Level 4 — Neutralizing dominant parties
Developing diplomatic strategies to stop one person dominating and share speaking time fairly.
One participant takes up most of the discussion time and doesn't give others a chance.
You notice some members haven't spoken at all while others are dominating; you must restore balance.
You use a specific technique to tactfully reduce a member's dominance.
Level 5 — Interim summaries and moving the discussion forward
Being able to regularly summarize the ideas raised and connect them to enrich the group's discussion.
In the middle of the discussion, you summarize the ideas raised so far to clarify the path forward.
After summarizing, lead the group to a deeper stage of the discussion.
You check with the group to ensure your summary accurately reflects what was said.
Level 6 — Managing conflicting opinions
Handling sharp differences of opinion and controlling tone and body language to prevent escalation.
A sharp disagreement arises between two group members.
A member raises their voice during a disagreement; you must manage the atmosphere.
Help the group critique ideas without attacking individuals.
Level 7 — Encouraging group critical thinking
Asking probing questions that push the group to analyze ideas deeply rather than accept them at face value, and boosting brainstorming.
Ask a probing question that drives the group to think deeper instead of surface-level acceptance.
Lead a brainstorming session to generate new ideas and creative solutions within the group.
Challenge an assumption that seems widely accepted to push for deeper thinking.
Level 8 — Managing discussion under pressure and tight time
Managing complex discussions in very short timeframes while keeping output quality and the group's calm.
Only a few minutes remain, and you must conclude a complex discussion with clear outcomes.
Tension begins to surface within the group due to the limited time remaining.
Decide to proceed with a decision despite unresolved points due to time constraints.
Level 9 — Negotiating and reaching consensus
Guiding the group to practical points of agreement and settling intellectual disputes to reach unified final recommendations.
You are leading the group toward practical points of agreement after a long and branching discussion.
A conceptual conflict remains between two members before reaching a final decision; you must settle it.
One member refuses to accept the consensus despite everyone else's approval.
Level 10 — Professional facilitation and closing analysis
Mastering the role of a fully neutral facilitator, assessing group dynamics and delivering a comprehensive final analysis of the dialogue.
You provide the group with a comprehensive analytical report on the course of the discussion and its outcomes.
A member asks for your personal opinion on the topic; you must remain neutral as a facilitator.
Provide practical recommendations to improve future discussion sessions.