Reference no: EM133260802

Your friend, Zara, whom you are quite close with, is leading her first facilitation session with the local community members to seek their input about new designs for an outdoor open gym and new playground area in the local park. From the very outset, she presented the facts (demographics such as statistics about culture, age groups, education level, income level, etc.) well, rationalised the costs versus benefits, explained why the new development is necessary, and laid out all the advantages to the community. You also happen to be in this session. You notice that the members of the community seem very sceptical and wary about what's at stake. Some have their hands folded, some seemingly unsure, some congregating towards their own ethnic groups, and some seem to whisper and ask questions amongst each other. At the lunch break session, you pull your friend aside and after small talk, you share your impressions and come to realise that the problem was with how the session was introduced and started. What advice do you provide in this context?