For further guidance on developing . Uphold confidentiality: Treat the candor of others as a gift. 16 Ground Rules for Group Work 1 "Tackle problems, not people" When people feel that they personal viewpoint is under attack, they often feel hurt, lash out and attack back. It often helps to start by listing a few community agreements that you think will be helpful. Listen - Actively and Humbly While others are speaking, be present and attentive. Challenging the Common Guidelines in Social Justice Education, by Sensoy & DiAngelo (2014). When the group numbers eight or more, a leader or facilitator, whether formal or informal, is almost always helpful in ensuring an effective discussion. Ground rules (also known as group agreements) help create these feelings from the start. Support Group Ground Rules . Even after youve wrapped up the discussion, youre not necessarily through. Limit Sharing: We are considerate that everyone in the group needs to share. Team Work PowerPoint. A constant question that leaders and members of any group have is what to do about racist, sexist, or homophobic remarks, especially in a homogeneous group where most or all of the members except the leader may agree with them. Seek common ground and understanding (not problems and conflict) Disagree without being disagreeable Remember responsibility and non-defensiveness Speak honestly Use I statements Seek unity (not separation) Be positive, non-judgmental and open to new ideas Speak your truth, without blame or judgment Be intrigued by the difference you hear But they are necessary to build equality within a team and organization. Undiscussable issues are those issues that are on everyones mind, but no one is able to bring them forwards. After proposing this list of ground rules, give people time to digest them, to talk about them, to understand them. They break. 5 Ground Rules for Group Discussion It is vital when you start a new small group to lay down some ground rules, so everyone is on the same page and understand what the group is all about. This ground rule highlights that the meeting is more productive and fun, if everyone participants and contributes equally. Regardless of the forum, conversations about diversity and inclusion can be difficult. Strickland, Tessa, Kate DePalma, and David Dean. Give all participants a voice- at the start highlight the value of a diversity of perspectives as an essential part of the process. Discussion prompts may include: . There are no right or wrong answers - we want honest, candid opinions. These Ground Rules are not static and continue to be refined over timeparticularly as we seek to decenterexpectations of "comfort" andsilence asstrategies for non-engagement. Techniques for Leading Group Discussions, Chapter 16. A community health educator facilitates a smoking cessation support group. Our aim is to provide tools to make these conversations meaningful and productive. This is particularly true when it comes to group discussion, where the process is, in fact, the purpose of the groups coming together. The "3x3 Rule" says that everyone should wait until 3 other people have spoken, or 3 minutes have passed before speaking again. They include setting, or helping the group to set the discussion topic; fostering the open process; involving all participants; asking questions or offering ideas to advance the discussion; summarizing or clarifying important points, arguments, and ideas; and wrapping up the session. (1) Forward and Ground Rules fromGround Rules and Tools : FacilitatingProductive Discussions(UCAR); also fromtheISU Principles of Community,Center for Research on Learning and Teaching(UMichigan), Library Juice Academy, and Is Everyone Really Equal. The group's agreement allows the leader or a group member to directly address an issue when a ground rule is not followed. Sometimes we are tempted to begin formulating what we want to say in response, instead of giving 100 percent of our focus to the speaker. Half the preparation is about knowledge. Leading an effective group discussion takes preparation (if you have the opportunity for it), an understanding of and commitment to an open process, and a willingness to let go of your ego and biases. Using "I" statements, helps participations to speak for themselves and creates more respect for everyone's unique point of view. Discourage alternate views or counter-arguments. Create a strategic plan for an initiative, an advocacy campaign, an intervention, etc. St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension. Group Work in the Classroom | Resource Pack. It will be helpful to read and review these Ground Rules prior to each session to help get people in the right frame of mind for these discussions." (1) We will modify these as a group to meet DEI needs. 2. Participants or students who attack often want attention, so simply giving them some recognition while firmly moving on often takes care of the problem. 2. Now, just to be clear: We are not saying that conflict is good per se. (2001). Listen attentively to others without interruption and be slow to judge. It helps greatly if the leader comes to the task with a democratic or, especially, a collaborative style, and with an understanding of how a group functions. 18 Ground Rules for Group Discussions 1 "Strong opinions, loosely held" The idea "strong opinions, loosely held" is that anyone is allowed to express their strong opinions, but at the same be open to change their mind if they new data suggests that they might be wrong. Explain the topic. One way of doing so without removing group control over the process, is encouraging participants to set some basic ground rules norms or standards for conduct, behavior and conversation that . Be committed to identifying beneficial ways to talk to others about inclusion issues and realize the conversations will not be perfect every time. (2006). (The exceptions are opinions or ideas that are discriminatory or downright false.) Health professionals and health educators. This resource can be used to lead a group discussion about developing ground rules for how primary care team members communicate with each other. Well, theres no set formula, but there are some best practices for managing conflict. Boice, R. (1996) First-Order Principles for College Teachers: Ten Basic Ways to Improve the Teaching Process (Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Co.). If there is an experimentally verified answer, the facilitator can use the opportunity to review the method by which the answer could be determined. Ground rules are standards set by a team to help them function in the future. Remind everyone to be aware of time, and to make their points succinctly so everyone has the chance to share. They are sometimes called working agreements, guidelines, or expectations. 2023 Do not multi-task (do other work) during the meeting. Maths in Our School Environment for Junior & Senior Infants Booklet. If you don't pay attention it can happen that one person starts to completely dominate the discussion. Next, ask students to think about the worst group . INTRODUCE YOURSELF. Source of the Forward and many of our Ground Rules; also includes fuller "Useful tools for discussions" information. 4. This category could include anyone from professional community organizers to average citizens who care about an issue or have an idea they want to pursue. IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED and need to talk after this discussion, YWCA is here to help. Normally, we do this in reverse. You have some choices about how you do that, however. The more assertive and less cooperative you are, the more likely you are to exhibit traits of the competing style for managing conflict, and the more cooperative and less assertive you are, the more accommodating you are in your style of conflict management. 6.1. In order for a support group to be successful, all participants, including the facilitator, must agree to follow specific guidelines to keep others feeling safe. Group members can receive and respond to respectful but honest and constructive feedback. Do group members want to be called on or would they like to speak freely? Coleman, P., Deutsch, M. and Eric C. Based on the authors' extensive experience in a range of settings in the United States and Canada, the book addresses the most common stumbling blocks to understanding social justice. "Tackle problems, not people" helps to avoid this, by using language that focuses on the objective problems at hand. Forsyth, D .Group Dynamics. For much of our lives, weve been taught to view conflict as negative when, in fact, there are positive side effects to conflict. The first thing you need to think about is leadership style, which we mentioned briefly earlier in the section. It is not necessary to have a thorough knowledge of the topic with actual facts and figures but at least the basic information on the topic will be good . She has to prepare the space and the setting to the extent possible; help the group establish ground rules that will keep it moving civilly and comfortably; provide whatever materials are necessary; familiarize herself with the topic; and make sure that any pre-discussion readings or assignments get to participants in plenty of time. Ko=jmc X2AH#AP15n$WTtVkV^/ UG:Ewn=5:_je=u{JBb(MkT7}{JZ}iwBM~?Io) +2wQR0!4B+*+2HT(KCZZ[7 OMUnuSN?eR8GV^Rg5)r,c}^`}I E{?Nt ;zroW,DCx0liO'/&wML0XPrcJts[5;]2^lL`cbcbEKeiVRDX]q. The Community Tool Box is a service of the. If it was the beginning, however, or part of an ongoing discussion, you may have a lot to do before the next session, including contacting people to make sure theyve done what they promised, and preparing the newsprint notes to be posted at the next session so everyone can remember the discussion. . Air concerns and differences among individuals or groups. Based on the size of the group, this can also be adjusted to the 2x2 or even 4x4 Rule. Facilitation resources, volume 4: Managing group interaction. GROUND RULES: Be willing to acknowledge that sexism and racism exist. "/$D~+nJ1L /}4(Rsb` x+yMD iHQEE(Bcu`9Q9^0=3Qoh*V'Bmd`hC/fC`]U66H0Fs1(mh{*W These folks may be respected for their leadership president of the Rotary Club, spokesperson for an environmental movement for their positions in the community bank president, clergyman or simply for their personal qualities integrity, fairness, ability to communicate with all sectors of the community. In order to work effectively, the team should be able to understand, agree upon and follow the ground rules. Section 4. ", 4. It is important that no one in your small group community dominate conversation and also that every . Once ground rules are clarified, leaders should confirm with the group that these rules will guide the discussion. If the group starts to veer in the direction of negativity and/or pointless venting, ask them how they would like to address this. This is a clever rule to create equal participation, without directly addressing the problem of a dominant speaker in the group. Ground rules should be sufficient but not excessive. There is no clear-cut answer, although if they pass unchallenged, it may appear you condone the attitude expressed. That may lead to a goal ultimatelybut it may not. Ask students to think about the best group discussions they have been a part of, and reflect on what made these discussions so satisfying. Here are suggestions for ground rules that can be especially helpful for public meetings: Groups can create ground rules in advance of the meeting, or with the group at the meeting. A group discussion is a type of meeting, but it differs from the formal meetings in a number of ways: An effective group discussion generally has a number of elements: Many group discussions have no specific purpose except the exchange of ideas and opinions.
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