Balancing Conversations: Navigating Dominant Personalities in Group Gatherings

Two days ago, I hosted a gathering in Shinjuku with five participants, including myself. Following the same rule as last time, participants paired up and chatted for 20 minutes each. However, there was one person who dominated the conversations, turning one-on-one chats into one-on-three without realizing it. Recognizing this issue, I interjected politely but firmly, reminding her, "〇〇-san, let's maintain one-on-one conversations for now." The other three participants, who are generally quiet and reserved, tended to take on the role of listeners in front of this more commanding participant.

For now, no one has expressed a desire not to participate if that person is there. Although I haven't banned anyone from attending, I wonder if I should have been more proactive in managing the situation as the host. However, I didn't want to be too forceful. Ideally, I hope that 〇〇-san will become more aware of her behavior and learn to be a better listener in future gatherings. I would like her to make a conscious effort to close her mouth occasionally and listen more, although I recognize that this might be equivalent to asking her to change her personality.