Discussion 06: Diversity Among Members in the Group
Please note: In order to successfully complete the program, you must respond to this post. Your comment/response should answer the questions/show that you completed the given activity (if any). Read the post carefully and implement the learning in the chat rooms. If you didn't participate in Discussion 05: Ethical, Cultural, and Group Management Issues, then check here!
This discussion will highlight how group leaders think about the identities of the group members and themselves and how we factor these thoughts into planning and leading the groups.
The myth about the homogenous group
When we talk about homogenous or heterogeneous groups, it is referred to as the problem presented in the group. A homogenous group is one in which members share similar kinds of problems to discuss and share. Anxiety Support Group, for example, focused on anxiety issues while Depression Support Group focused on depression, Trauma Support for trauma-related issues, Relationship Support for relationship support issues, and so on.
Although, variability still exists in these topic-specific groups as well even though it is assumed it is not highly relevant to the operation of the topic-specific groups. This perspective can have different roots. The first is the sublevels of the specific topic. Like in the anxiety support room, there could be some members experiencing social anxiety, some struggling with test anxiety, and some with health anxiety as well. Though they are broadly categorized as anxiety, they are different. The triggers for these subtopics could be different and so the coping mechanisms and intensity at which a member experiences them.
Another root is member’s thoughts about their own identity and the challenges they have. Due to differences in one’s perspective and how everyone perceives a piece of information could cause conflict too. Like thoughts on one’s mental health struggles with the factor of religion or cultural aspects to it. And, how others see it. Or, the group leader’s own thoughts on these points and the knowledge they have on it to address it.
All of these factors conspire to lead group leaders to limit permissible acknowledgment of the diversity of the group members even though they look like a homogeneous group.
To address this diversified group, a group leader needs to acknowledge. Individual differences like age, generational influence, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, socio-economic status, mental health issue, etc need to be considered and acknowledged while addressing and leading the group.
When a group leader acknowledges their situation with an empathetic view and helps them understand how others may have similar situations but just individual differences, then they are able to build a healthy connection and support in the group. It allows group leaders to structure the group effectively even though they are diversified.
7Cups Community Leader, for example, is the term we use for our leaders instead of stressing on who is from where, the age, education, etc. In the 7Cups ecosystem, they are known as community leaders of 7Cups who are performing different levels of activities to ensure better support and guidance for everyone.
As long as a group leader is able to identify and connect the common grounds, the group members would feel inclusive and unified and better supported and comfortable.
Discussion: What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
Activity: Respond to at least two of your fellow trainees' comments with thoughts on their share.
After fulfilling the requirements of this post. Ensure to implement the learning from these discussions in the chat rooms to build and support the group. You must take part in the brainstorming/activities given in all of these discussions to successfully complete the program.
Edited by Asherwolfice, 4/19/21
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
I think a group is a group, homogeneity or heterogeneity doesn't matter as long as the participants are able to empathize and have a genuine concern towards each other.
What will someone do when participants of a homogeneous start comparing their problems to appear more suppressed. OR in a heterogeneous group where people are not interested in understanding other person.
So for me all that matters is being empathetic and caring.
@specialSnow9454 Good thoughts Snow and I agree with you. However I have a question for you, how would you handle a situation where a member is not really empathetic or caring. As a group facilitator what will be your steps to ensure they practice it?
@ASilentObserver my steps for that would be to talk to them privately and ask if there is any problem they will like to share. For at the moment solution, I will try to remind them about being empathetic.
@specialSnow9454
A well-written post, Snow.
@specialSnow9454
I really liked your answer. Because it's true, being empathetic and caring is one of the most important factors when it comes to leading a successful group discussions. However, I believe that those factors alone aren't the only ones required in order to be a successful group leader. Several other factors are also needed in order to be an excellent group leader. One of the previous discussion forums talked about these factors in more detail.
@ASilentObserver
My thoughts are that each member is a link in the chain that forms into the group. Each individual member / link is unique but they are unified into a group / chain by their similarities. Without the individuals, there can be no group.
The leader is the anchor that holds this all together. They give strength and support to the individual member (based on their situation and needs) and the members then give support to strengthen the group.
In my opinion, the Share Circles are a good example of this. Each person has a need that they want to be heard and supported (the situations are vastly different but the needs are the same). The leader recognizes and acknowledges both the needs and the situations of each person within the group, while encouraging participation and inclusiveness in a Group.
@Sher217 Nicely shared Sher. Good thoughts and example.
@Sher217 @ASilentObserver
i really like your analogy of a group and it’s members being like a chain and it’s links. That is probably one of the most realistic comparisons I’ve ever heard!
@ASilentObserver
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
I believe we are all human, no matter the race or ethnicity, the colour of our skin or where we come from, we all have the right to ask and receive an equal amount of support.
With that being said, I honestly think that individual characteristics do not matter when it comes to groups, as long as all members align with the implemented rules and are aware and interested in the common goals, are compassionate and caring, mindful of others, willing to listen and be heard! ❤️
@Ines1229 Agreed, Ines. Well said. But I have a question for you: What will a group facilitator do when individuals in the group not aligned? What steps as a group leader did one take to bring the alignment and sync?
@ASilentObserver
Hi Obs, thanks for the question ❤️
I think one of the most important things as a leader is to know how to de-escalate. By using de-escalation techniques, trying to change the subject of the conflict into a more positive way the chat could go, you distract everyone from keeping the negativity within the room.
@ASilentObserver
Of course, this is just one example <3
@Ines1229
I really liked your answer! I agreed with everything you said here. It's true, individual characteristics do not matter at all. This mind-set is well inclusive towards all individuals of various races, ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, etc.
@ASilentObserver
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
As a leader of what seems to be a homogenous group you still have to consider the fact that everyone is unique and different and that everyone will have their own positive and negative experiences with different aspects within the large umbrella term of 'community'
We must be considerate to all different viewpoints and openly accept feedback from everyone within our community as we ourselves do not have the same experiences as everyone else and we could benefit from hearing these different view points as it will help us understand our community better 💙
@Azalea98 Yes, totally! AZ! Respecting everyone's views is important for a supportive group environment.
@ASilentObserver Everyone is unique and all have different opinions / thoughts on different things, to keep a respectful and inclusive environment all inputs from any member should be respected and accounted for, homogeneous or heterogeneous, the environment should still be respectful and inclusive. However, it may be good to let them know of support groups that are relevant to their topic of issues, which may be able to provide better support since the whole group will be focussed on that topic of issue. The main thing that’s important is that people are empathic and caring to fellow members regardless of which group they are in :)
@ASilentObserver
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
Having different groups doesn't matter in my opinion. I feel like even though you might be in this group you could also be in that other group, so it still will create a mixture even if we might not see it. Everyone should get close to equal support, I say "close" because there are different ways to support someone depending on what the situation may be or what the other party might want.
As a group leader you do have to have knowledge and learn how to deal with different things. Although someone may be from a different culture or English is not their first language, or anything else we still would have to learn how to better supporter them in a way that they would feel comfortable. I think we should have a chatroom room for different languages, I do know that it can be hard to moderate though which is why the rule is to speak only English. Having a different language chatroom would benefit a lot of people greatly, it will be hard to find moderators who speak that certain language, but I believe it can be fulfilled.
- Hope I answered this correctly. Glad this question was asked, it got me to think about some things.
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
I think all the people that make up a group support room are individual and unique, and all have their strengths, talents and abilities. This contributes to a diverse group of people, with lots of wonderful opinions and perspectives and walks of life. As a group leader, this brings refreshing ideas and new observations to support rooms
@Dino12
Loved this answer!
@ASilentObserver
Takeaway:
Even when the group classified in the same topic, variability still exists.
Roots of variability in groups are:
○ Sublevel of specific topics
○ Thoughts and perspectives of each individual's own identities and challenges.
Group Leader needs to identify and address this diversity with an empathetic view and help people find or see the common grounds for everyone to feel inclusive, unified, comfortable and supported.
@ASilentObserver
Homogenous discussions are specific topic related. So sometime the discussion are more serious and deeper .My takeaway is not le my own perspective or experience related to the topic overshadow when I validate or empathy with the member and keep reminding member we are individual having different experience and belief system . Having different pace of copying mechanism.
If hetrogenous discussion i make sure i dont prefer to answer the topic that I am more comfortable. I need to keep reminding it active listening whatever group I am into.
My takeaway from this discussion is the fact that there will always be diversity in a group. Regardless of how specific the group’s purpose, we are all unique and therefore there is diversity in the group. I have seen this when leading a group within a large organisation for girls and young women - all group members were girls of about the same age from the same village, attending the group for similar purposes, and yet they all had different needs, different ways of going about the same tasks, and unique personalities.
As a group leader, it is important to acknowledge that members are all individuals, especially with regard to how individuals experience a common event in different ways. However the group leader must also acknowledge similarities in order to bring the group together and give a sense of belonging. Balance is key.