Discussion prompts may include: . Medical Education, 38:286-293. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Its important to think about what youre most comfortable with philosophically, and how that fits what youre comfortable with personally. Take a break at least every hour. Ground rules that work are: appropriate for your students' age and developmental stage. ", 4. Ground rules clarify expectations for behavior in the meeting. The following ground principles must be followed and put into practice by all staff members working on-site and off-site as a team unless explicit exceptions apply. Good listening requires concentration and attention. Allow others to share. Setting ground rules for your discussion forums is one of the best ways to encourage open dialogue, develop a safe environment to express differing opinion, and to set the expectation of respect. The more people zone out of a meeting, the quality of the meeting and its output will diminish rapidly. The facilitator can list both sides of the argument on the board. 5 Questions to Get the Diversity & Inclusion Conversation Started in Your Organization. Research & Empower your team by reminding them that they have permission to: ask . How can you create guidelines? Confidentiality. The first ground rule is to review each other's style of communication. -Approved Feb. 9, 2007. Encourage people to consider their comments seriously, and to avoid becoming defensive if someone disagrees. Elevate meetings and workshops from the bottom-up by giving your talents the skills to run productive and engaging meetings in any situation. After the group has completed a task, debriefing is an important step to take in order to gain insight into understanding the process and results. 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. Surgical Neurology, 47:400-403. Acknowledge that we are all systematically taught misinformation about our own group and about members of other groups. Ask students to think about the best group discussions they have been a part of, and reflect on what made these discussions so satisfying. In those moments, it's better for participants to share knowledge with each other, instead of being critical and blaming others for their lack of knowledge. When the group numbers eight or more, a leader or facilitator, whether formal or informal, is almost always helpful in ensuring an effective discussion. New York: Penguin Group, 1999. Are you a directive or non-directive leader? Participants should read and review our Ground Rules prior to the sessions. This is true for everyone, regardless of our group (s). Things will emerge, unplanned situations will arise. You might choose to lead a group discussion, or you might find yourself drafted for the task. Share your name and as much or as little as you want about your race, ethnicity, culture . A group of two or three generally doesnt need a leader to have a good discussion, but once the number reaches five or six, a leader or facilitator can often be helpful. 1. Support Group Ground Rules . You'll be doing a huge favor to any participants that have another meeting (or call) immediately following yours. End on time. Marcus., The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice (3. Its much closer to acting as a facilitator, but not exactly the same as that either. Step back when a group is functional/functioning help participants become independent learners; take control of their learning. The term ground rules was originally used to describe the rules of baseball that teams agreed to use in a particular venue, or grounds. Bring materials to help the discussion along. Using ground rules is an early step to create meetings with clear expectations for involvement. Be prompt in arriving to the meeting and in returning from breaks. For the maximum benefit to all, everyone must contribute. Asking the contributor for further clarification and/or elaboration. The ultimate comfort, and one that breaks down barriers among people, is that of eating and drinking. Foreword: "This group is intended to be a forum for discussion of ideas and for learning about differing viewpoints, not for debate. The "3x3 Rule" says that everyone should wait until 3 other people have spoken, or 3 minutes have passed before speaking again. So how do you do that? If you have time to prepare beforehand, there are a number of things you may be able to do to make the participants more comfortable, and thus to make discussion easier. If such conflicts are left ambiguous, they may cause continuing trouble. An effective discussion group depends on a leader or facilitator who can guide it through an open process the group chooses what its discussing, if not already determined, discusses it with no expectation of particular conclusions, encourages civil disagreement and argument, and makes sure that every member is included and no one dominates. Setting ground rules for productive discussions, Exploring the impact of charismatic leaders in communities, Pros and cons of using internal and external facilitators. Do not be afraid to respectfully challenge one another by asking questions, but refrain from personal attacks focus on ideas. Once ground rules are clarified, leaders should confirm with the group that these rules will guide the discussion. 9. 3. Once stated, anyone in the meeting can say "ELMO!" Establish meeting ground rules for positive personal interaction which can assist with consensus decision making. Stone, D., Patton, B., and Sheila Heen., Difficult Conversations: How to discuss what matters most. Here are some common problems with suggestions for how to deal with them. Feedback could be positive, negative, or merely clarifying or correcting factual questions or errors, but is in all cases delivered respectfully. Do not multi-task (do other work) during the meeting. Asking follow-up questions, and paraphrasing the comments for everyone to ponder. Group and Organizational Studies, vol. Attempt to pursue a common goal, rather than individual goals. How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race. But if participants mutually explore the interest behind the positions, it becomes much easier to find a common ground. Give everyone an opportunity to share. Share, even if you dont have the right words: Suspend judgment and allow others to be unpolished in their speaking. Perhaps assigning the avid talker to the observer role would help the person develop sensitivity. Feel free to take part in refreshments or use the restroom at any time. It may also mean a space away from the ordinary. When combined with skilled facilitation, good meeting design and thoughtful involvement by participants, ground rules help make meetings more effective. 2, pp.419-427. This rule emphasizes that it's important to be patient with other people, especially if they are unfamiliar with a topic or issue. (The exceptions are opinions or ideas that are discriminatory or downright false.) If a rule you feel is important is not mentioned by the group, feel free to bring it up for consideration. 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. They break. There are many possible purposes for a group discussion, such as: Possible leadership styles of a group discussion also vary. Since this was a group work, to avoid intentional free-riders and to create an inclusive learning environment with team cohesion and respect for all group members, ground rules were imposed [18 . If the session was one-time, or was the last of a series, your job may now be done. This group is not intended as "Diversity 101" training. Wayne, NJ: Career Press, 2017. Common core: Ideas and techniques for establishing effective group process Your transparency will encourage others. Enter the room a few minutes early to resolve any technical issues. 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 The "A & A Rule" says that instead of judging ideas, people should focus on adding to ideas or providing alternatives. Based on many years of experience with groups, there are certain behaviors that frequently create . Scheffert, D., Anderson, M., Anderson, S., et al. 1. Respect Differences? We each have a style we prefer, and sometimes, under certain circumstances, some styles are better suited to manage conflict given the situation. Iowa State University of Science and Technology Locating - Facilitators can ask the questioner to explain the context behind the question. If youre asked a direct question, you might want to answer it if its a question of fact and you know the answer, and if its relevant to the discussion. Ultimately, an effective group discussion is one in which many different ideas and viewpoints are heard and considered. E.L.M.O stands for "Enough, let's move on" and can be established as a meeting rule to cut unnecessary discussions. 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. Conflict is normal and can be inherent in nearly every situation. Not being afraid to admit your own ignorance or confusion if you dont know something invite others to provide resources, and use the opportunity to discuss with the group how one might go about researching the issue. 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. When conflict arises, what matters when is how we deal with it. Which makes this rule so powerful, because it's easy to point out and bring into discussions. Treat participants with respect and consideration. When the group numbers eight or more, a leader or facilitator, whether formal or informal, is almost always helpful in ensuring an effective discussion. The group's size and purpose can determine how ground rules are set. Equity & Inclusion Group Ground Rules Adapted from UT Astronomy E&I Discussion Group Ground Rules by Caitlin Casey, Brandon Bozek, and Raquel Martinez. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. University of Minnesota Extension discovers science-based solutions, delivers practical education, and engages Minnesotans to build a better future. Your ground rules the issue of respecting everyone should address this issue, and it probably wont come upbut there are no guarantees. Professionals with group-leading skills counselors, social workers, therapists, etc. Most often because they are afraid of the consequences or think the context isn't the right one to address the issue. Test Assumptions and Inferences. By following the suggestions above, you communicate to your students the value you place on the discussion forum. Invite inquiry into your views. In the 1970s, a model for understanding managing conflict was created and from it the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) was born. xx Foster a culture in which differences of opinion are encouraged, placing emphasis on the common goals among your members (or team, employees, and colleagues). Convey a sense of self-importance or superiority. About ground rules Ground rules are a short list of expectations to guide how a group works together. 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