Source: Woods (1994)

1. Attend to both morale and task components

• Any group has two responsibilities: to uplift, sustain and enrich the morale of the group, and to complete a task. One affects the other – if the task is not completed the morale of the group will be low, if the morale is low it is unlikely the task will be completed.

2. Don’t fight for leadership; leadership rotates among members

• Leadership rotates among group members depending on who has the most to offer at a particular time.
• The chairperson on the other hand has the responsibility to keep the group in order and keep things moving along at the appropriate pace.

3. Help the chairperson to be effective

• Select a chairperson.
• The chairperson must prepare an agenda and you must support the chairperson’s efforts (or to nudge her in the right direction when needed).

4. Help the group evolve through the maturing process

• Groups don’t start off great - they evolve. Being aware of that evolutionary process fosters understanding and progress for group members. When a group is new, members may ask “why am I in this group?” and “am I accepted as being a welcome member in this group?” As the group matures, the concerns shift to questions like, “who controls this group?” and “how close do I want to get emotionally to the group members?”

5. Assume the roles the group needs

• Each of us has preferred roles we are most comfortable assuming. However, we should be skilled and willing to assume other roles as we become aware of the group needs.

6. Reflect on each meeting

• Take time at the end of each meeting to discuss how well the morale and task components of the group were handled. Then ask each member to comment on the role she felt she played. This should be for clarification not heated discussion. List your group’s five strengths and the two areas to work on. Use this reflection time and goal setting activity to help the group see growth from meeting to meeting.

7. Let others know of complications

• If you cannot attend, if you have to leave early, if you might be late – let your chairperson know.

(Original page by Mary Frangie)