How to Lead a Book Discussion
In a recent post I talked about how to choose a book (or books, because plural books are better) with your volunteers or staff. In this post, I want to talk about how you actually lead the discussion.
Now, please note this is my way, the way that I’ve grown accustomed to over the years. Your mileage may vary, and you might have some specific flavors of how you lead that makes you, you. That’s fine. The point is, lead out in great discussions, not just so-so ones.
1. Know your mile markers.
Before embarking on a discussion, have a general idea of where you want it to go. What are the big points you want to bring out? What are key quotes you want to drill down on? What are the big “aha!” moments that you hope happens?
You can’t do this without a thorough reading of the book and internalizing it for yourself. You need to be able to go off-script when needed and flip to parts of the book you didn’t plan to discuss, but you know they’re there.
And by the way, this may mean that you need to narrow the scope of reading for those whom you’re leading. More on that in point #6 of the previous post.
2. Use the book as a jumping-off point.
Do not…I repeat…do not attempt to wade through a book page by page. That’s the quickest way to kill a discussion. Rather, know the one or two big ideas in the book that will get you to your ultimate destination (see point #1 above). Then ask a key question or two and let the conversation go wherever it may. For every book discussion I lead, my goal is that we’ll talk about the actual book for 10-20% of the time, and the balance is spent on whatever the folks in the room bring up.
…but this is where the mile markers in point #1 are important. While you want lots of free-flowing conversation, you don’t want things to veer into no-man’s land where you set up the tension but it’s never resolved. Like a puppet master, you’ll want to pull on certain strings and nudge certain answers so you keep people on the path you intended.
3. Don’t explain what they can discover.
I’m assuming the people in a reading group can read and comprehend for themselves. But I also realize that reading something in a book doesn’t always mean they’re connecting the dots to what you want them to learn and apply.
But that doesn’t mean you spoon feed them. Prepare really good questions that walk them right up to the line of discovery, and then sit back and watch the light bulbs go off. Learning is way more fun when it’s something we have to struggle with a bit.
4. Mix up your discussion methods.
If you have a larger group, break the conversation up into smaller ones, and give them questions to discuss. If you’re in a smaller group, develop different active learning methods to move away from a simple talking head. Utilize whiteboards, butcher paper, post it notes, sketches, role plays (side note…I loathe role plays, but you do you, boo) … whatever you need to do to keep the discussion lively.
And one of the best ways to do that…
5. Encourage disagreement on the road to unity.
I mentioned it in the previous post, but some of the best discussions are the ones that get a bit scrappy along the way. This tension might be present already based on the book you pick, but if it’s not, create some. Straight up ask who disagrees with all or with some of the book. Ask for examples of how your church culture is different than what is prescribed by the author. Look for small ways to instigate, annoy, and irritate a few in the group.
Now of course, you need to use this tool sparingly. No one wants to come to a group where everyone is yelling. But introducing a bit of tension to the conversation can be a great way to cement who you actually want to be.
6. Offer additional resources.
With every book, look for ways to broaden your group’s perspective. Offer up books that argue a different side. Toss in some quotes from another author that supports what they just read. At the end of the meeting, give them a few titles or links to a podcast episode that will help them continue the learning journey.
But more than anything else, point them to resources that are already present in your church culture. This is a habit I try to keep when leading conversations with volunteers. At some point in each book discussion, it’s my goal to say, “That’s why we do ____” or “That’s why this document exists” or “This is why we’re moving towards…” Doing this brings learning to life, and gives them tangible ways to keep the book in front of them.
I really believe that a good book discussion can move the needle on your culture. How do you lead through what you read?
photo credit: Austin Franks
