AI IDeas on Getting People to Say Something

 AI Ideas for Meetings where Zoom Members Just Sit There

It sounds like your meeting has a unique mix of regular attendees and a large, shifting group of "guests" who often prefer to listen rather than share. The long silences can be awkward, especially in a sharing meeting where participation is essential for the group's energy.

Here are some strategies that might help:

1. Set the Expectation More Directly at the Start

• Instead of saying, "If you only want to listen, that’s okay," try rewording to emphasize participation:
  • "We understand that some of you may be here just to listen tonight, and that's okay. But since this is a sharing meeting, it really works best when at least a few people take part. If you feel at all inclined, we'd love to hear even just a short share from you."
• Some people might be unsure of when or how to jump in, so encouraging brief, simple shares could help.

2. Use Prompts to Kickstart Sharing

• Silence often happens when people don’t know what to say. Give them an easy starting point:
  • "A topic to consider tonight is 'What’s one thing that helped you stay sober this week?'"
  • "What was your biggest challenge this week in sobriety?"
  • "What was your first impression of AA, and how has it changed?"
• A prompt makes it easier for people to contribute without feeling put on the spot.

3. Gently Call on Willing Participants

• If you have a couple of regulars, you might arrange in advance for them to kick things off if silence drags. You can also invite newcomers directly but without pressure:
  • "We’d love to hear from some of the new folks. No need for anything deep—maybe just what brought you here tonight."
• Sometimes a light personal nudge, rather than a broad invitation, can work.

4. Use a 'Go-Around' Format for a Few Minutes

• Instead of leaving it entirely open-ended, you might say:
  • "Let’s do a quick go-around where each person shares just one sentence about where they’re at tonight. No pressure, but feel free to pass if you like."
• This lowers the barrier to participation and might help get the conversation flowing.

5. Leverage the Power of the Regulars

• If you have a couple of strong participants, they could share shorter reflections to break up silences rather than waiting out the silence.

6. Acknowledge the Dynamic Without Frustration

• If long pauses happen, you can simply normalize it rather than making it awkward:
  • "We have a lot of people who like to listen, and that’s totally okay. If anyone wants to jump in, we’d love to hear your voice. No pressure, just an open space."

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These small adjustments might help create more warmth, invitation, and momentum without making people feel forced to speak. Would you like help rewriting part of the script to reflect these changes?

You said:

I go to an in person meeting on some Friday nights, where there are about 20 people, and a lead speaker gives a ten minute share, then we go person-by-person around the circle. Everybody shares fine in that situation. What about the idea, AA is about getting to know one another and hear one another and learn from one another? That's a main point of AA sharing meetings (as opposed to 100 person meetings with a 1 hour speaker). one regular member once said, "All these new faces, and I'm looking forward to getting to know something about you." Themes along these lines?

ChatGPT said:

That’s a great insight—AA is about connection, learning from one another, and building a sense of fellowship. The structure of your Friday night meeting ensures that everyone shares, which naturally prevents long silences. But in your Zoom meeting, where participation is voluntary, emphasizing the idea that sharing is how we get to know each other and how AA works could be a useful approach.

Possible Ways to Introduce This Theme in Your Meeting:

1. Make Connection the Focus From the Start

   • "AA isn’t just about staying sober—it’s about getting to know one another, hearing each other’s experiences, and learning from each other. The heart of a sharing meeting is exactly that—sharing. If you’re comfortable, we’d love to hear from you, even if it’s just a sentence or two about what brought you here."

2. Borrow From What the Regular Said

   • "We have a lot of new faces here tonight, and I look forward to getting to know something about each of you."
   • This makes it feel like an invitation rather than a demand.

3. Frame It as Participation, Not Performance

   • Some newcomers might be nervous about sharing because they think they have to say something profound. You could say:
   • "Sharing in AA isn’t about saying something perfect—it’s about showing up and being part of the group. Even a small share helps keep the spirit of the meeting alive."

4. Tie It to AA’s Core Purpose

   • "One thing that makes AA different from other approaches is that we learn from one another. It’s not a lecture, it’s a conversation. And like any good conversation, the more voices we hear, the more we all get out of it."

5. Use a Gentle Prompt About What Sharing Means

   • "For those of us who’ve been here a while, we know that listening is valuable. But there’s something about speaking out loud—saying what’s on our minds—that helps in a different way. If you’re on the fence about sharing, know that your words might help someone else tonight, just as theirs might help you."

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Would you like to update your script to include some of these ideas? I can help rewrite sections to weave in this theme naturally.

You said:

Yes, please update selected sections to weave this in. You don't need to re print the whole script.

ChatGPT said:

Here are the updated sections with the theme of AA as a place to get to know one another, share, and learn from each other woven in:

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INTRODUCTIONS:

"We’re glad to have everyone here tonight, whether you’re new to this meeting or a regular. One thing that makes AA different from other approaches is that we learn from one another—not through lectures, but through sharing our experiences. So if you’re comfortable, we’d love to hear from you, even if it’s just a sentence or two about what brought you here."

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Before Opening for Sharing:

"AA isn’t just about staying sober—it’s about connection. One of the best ways we support each other is by sharing. A regular at this meeting once said, ‘All these new faces, and I’m looking forward to getting to know something about you.’ That’s the heart of a sharing meeting. It’s not about saying something perfect—it’s just about being part of the conversation. If you feel comfortable, we’d love to hear even a small share from you tonight."

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To Gently Encourage Sharing When Silence Stretches:

"We understand that some people prefer to listen, and that’s okay. But sharing is what keeps this meeting alive. If you’re unsure what to say, you might just share one thing that helped you this week, or what brought you here tonight. Even a few words can help someone else who’s listening."

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These slight adjustments should help set the expectation in a warm and inviting way without putting anyone on the spot. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!