• Set a climate that prevents potential problems:
• Chat with participants to understand their learning needs and expectations, levels of expertise, and to build a climate that facilitates learning.
• Articulate and post program goals – what participants will be able to do as a result of the program – so that they know what you expect and how they’ll benefit. This can help you keep the program activities and discussions focused.
• Have participants articulate and post the challenges and problems they face in relation to program topics, and link your program goals and agenda to them. Refer to this throughout your program to assess how effectively concerns are being addressed.
• Have participants develop and post ground rules that set expectations around how they and you can work effectively together. Share your expectations with them. In particular ask participants to let you know what they need, when they need it (rather than in the end-of-workshop evaluation, when it’s too late to do anything). You can refer back to these to encourage discussion and participation and address relevant challenging situations as they arise.

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