Preparing for In-Person Focus Groups at CHIME18 Fall CIO Forum
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10.09.2018 By Arika Lycan, CHIME Foundation Specialist |
As you head in to the 2018 CHIME Fall CIO Forum, many of you are preparing to implement In-Person Focus Groups. Held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. (PST), In-Person Focus Groups represent a key way for your team to connect and engage with CHIME CIOs, and realize the full potential of your Foundation membership.
Through Insight and CHIMEcentral.org, we’ve shared a number of helpful articles and resources that give you the information you need to be best prepared to host your Focus Group. We’d like to highlight some of these resources, as well as reiterate a few key learnings.
Focus Group planning and implementation resources include:
- Planning for Focus Group Success- 9 Best Practices
- Perspectives from Both Sides of a Focus Group
- CHIME Foundation’s Focus Group page with tips, trips, and guidelines
- Successful In-Person Focus Groups webinar
Some of the most valuable tips for leading successful Focus Groups:
Have an “internal agenda.”
A stated goal and objective to attendees at the start of the Focus Group can help you meet your session’s objectives and help the CIOs guide the discussion, ensuring you are getting what you need from them.
Understand your audience.
Don’t get too techy or you might lose your audience. Keep the discussion focused on one topic or a range of topics that are engaging.
Employ “active listening.”
Reflect answers back to your participants. Attendees want to know they’re being heard and understood, that their opinions are valued.
Utilize the group dynamic.
Create an environment that will encourage discussion between participants. This generates lots of thoughtful ideas. Cyndi Cahill, senior vice president of Atos Digital Health, recently presented a session on Conducting an Engaging Partner Conversation at CPES18. Cahill suggests, “Have your audience interact with each other. You can be the conductor, let them create the music.”
The CHIME Foundation team is here to support you on your journey to Focus Group success. Reach out to us at any point along the way should you have questions.