Discussion 04: Group Leadership
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 03: Group Development & Therapeutic Factors
, then check here!
Now that we have considered the therapeutic processes that are available for group building and development to move a group towards its common goals. We will discuss the role of a group leader/ facilitator/ specialist who seeks to activate it. Certainly, every leader varies tremendously based on the type of groups they facilitate, the approach, intellectual and personality characteristics, and other factors. Yet we know that to become an effective leader, one could develop common sets of skills and characteristics. The roads can vary but the destination must be the same to ensure members have the best experiences in the group support.
Leading the group is different from individual support.
Listening & supporting in 1:1 setup and leading and supporting in the group set up is different. Because in group setup, you are not just one but sharing the space with a number of other members too who may be going through similar or different situations.
You will notice a level of anxiety among members. The anxiety of how they will share in the group, what if others will judge them or don’t understand, or what if they feel stuck in the middle of sharing, and so on. And, in an open group, when a new member joins in while a member is sharing, they might not feel comfortable as a new person joined and who do not know what sharer is going through.
In such situations as a leader, you would be managing and addressing the collective anxiety of the group. Acknowledging and supporting each member to feel comfortable and so the new member who joins in as well. Reminding them how they all are part of the group and each of them has valid struggles. So, as a leader, you are interacting with a bunch of members and ensuring they get support as well as providing support to each other.
Group dynamics can give insight into how the clients react in social situations outside of the group.
As a leader, you gain insights into how members could behave in the group setup. So, it is important, you make better choices while being a group leader:
How much leadership to exercise. Every group is different. Some members are more comfortable speaking up and sharing with each other while some groups would need gentle nudges to make them talk and seek and provide support. So, as a leader, you need to choose and decide how much leadership you need to exercise based on the group you participate in.
How to structure the group. You can structure the group i.e. how the group will function. Whether all interactions will be parallel or it will be turn-based setting so one share and others listen and process repeats.
When to intervene. Some like to sit back and listen and support the members as the chat goes while some leaders like to have tight control and decide how the chat will move. Every leader is different. And, interventions will vary based on groups too. If all members are supportive and comfortable discussing, a leader would let members discuss and support each other. While if some members join in with unacceptable behavior, the leader would need to take the lead and remind them to have appropriate behavior.
Personal Qualities of a Leader
Every leader has their own strengths and weaknesses and has a unique style to approach the group and lead it. But to be an effective group leader, it is important to have some common skills and traits like Constancy, Active Listening, Firm Identity, Confidence, Spontaneity, Integrity, Trust, Humor & Empathy.
You need to build your own firm identity in the group as there would be different leaders at different time periods. So, to build a healthy connection with the group members, it is important members know what kind of leader you are so they feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging when you present in the room. Moreover, be an empathetic leader who communicates with each member with respect and acceptance. Encourages them to discuss, share more, and take action. Compliments the members from time to time to keep them motivated and remind them their actions are getting noticed. Gently persuade them to speak more and take steps to progress and improve. And, provide support to all so everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging.
As a leader, you are modeling and shaping the behavior of the room and group members. You would need to set an example and inspire group members to be like one and collectively have a modeled group support in the room. Your activity, participation, professionalism, and support determine how the group will be doing.
Discussion: How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen?
Activity: Respond to at least two of your fellow trainees' comments with thoughts on their share.
After fulfilling the requirements of this post, please check out the next discussion here! 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.
@ASilentObserver
Discussion: How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen?
A room full of loving and caring people willing to listen is what i think we all need.
One thing I think we need to do to make this happen is make sure everyone if open and feels comfotable, on thing we can do to make this happen is icebreakers
@pianoplayer1253
That's awesome! Great answer ♡
@ASilentObserver
How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader?
Everyone should feel welcomed, heard and understood. And it should be No judgment zone. Everyone should get the support they deserve and they should feel comfortable sharing their issues without being forced by anyone. Everyone should follow community guidelines and chatroom rules to ensure safe and positive environment (without any conflicys) of the site.
What is one thing you need to make it happen?
Use active listening skills and empathy to give support to members and do respect everyone and do not judge them. Try to understand the situation and act accordingly. If there's conflict going on use de escalation methods or inform moderator. Always follow community guidelines and encourage everyone to do the same. Compliment the members and value their effort to help each other.
@Tobedoctor wow yes I agree
How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader?
All participants know how the session works and identify with it. They support the rules and behave accordingly. They view themselves as a community. They are supportive of those sharing and use active listening skills. They welcome new members into their community and look out for one another. They organize the session for themselves and make sure that everyone is heard. They trust one another and feel comfortable sharing. A sense of belonging makes them come back and become regulars. They see their communalities and view the group as having shared goals they all strive to reach together. In this idea group session, the host does nothing.
What is one thing you need to make it happen?
There are many things the host has to do for the group to become as close to this idea group as possible. But I think it can be summed up by the host's task of balancing the groups strengths and weaknesses. The closer the group is to its ideal form, the less the host should do. The further it is away from it, the more it becomes a task of moderating. The host needs identify what is lacking and balance the group dynamics by filling the voids. That may be through maintaining the structure of the session, offering active listening, looking out for "weaker" participants and helping create a sense of community.
@MagnificentSunrise
I think that the point you brought up about being supportive and using active listening skills is such a huge part of group support at Cups.
How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen?
I think for group support to work effectively, they need a delicate balance between the members interacting with each other with minimal input from my part. The reason for this is that I want to ensure that the place is run by the people who the target audience is; if I'm saying that this is a place for disability support, but I interrupt everyone by trying to acknowledge each person, then what happens is that I'm doing all the work and the members will feel excluded from one another. If I let the conversation flow naturally and then if my input is required, I'll come in for a short period, with perhaps an ice breaker, but ultimately it's the members who run the place, not the other way around.
@ASilentObserver
An ideal group support is one that mainly focuses on giving support, whether it be through hosting discussions or members just venting, sharing supportive ideas of how to deal with certain situations.
One thing I need to make it happen as group leader is that I need to make sure the room is a safe space for everyone, does everyone feel welcomed and comfortable to share, and make sure no one feels rushed or forced to do share or do anything they don't want to. I need to make sure the group is empathetic and not judgmental towards one another.
@SoothingHope
i like that you mention it’s important for people to not feel rushed or what’s their comfort level is like regarding sharing in the group. As the discussion points out there’s a lot of factors for people not talking in the group such as anxiousness or they feel they may be judged or sometimes like how people in real life are in the group to listen to internally process, it can be like this online too where people are there but not talk or write much. The difference is in this setting it’s hard to tell if the person in group who isn’t talking is actively processing what’s shared onto themselves if they’re just going to check something or they simply don’t talk because they have other things going at the moment.
It’s a good reminder for myself as well and why I try to not take it personally if I host discussions and not many answer and part of why I started putting my own responses or general condenses as well so that the ones in the discussion can get something out of it anyways even if it’s not as responsive.
@ASilentObserver
"Discussion: How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen?"
I visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader as everyone caring about each other and treating each other with respect and kindness. A very large part of support is empathy. It is very important to validate other's feelings and experiences and put yourself in their shoes (metaphorically) and let them know that someone cares and that they are not alone.
@Fluffysheep8
makijg sure everyone in the group has empathy is definitely an essential to having the ideal group support. Without this, it would be very difficult to create that safe space let alone make room for everyone to learn and grow from each other. Having respect and trust is also important to establish before trying to maintain the group as a leader.
@Fluffysheep8
@Fluffysheep8
Great insight! Empathy is key whether you're in a
1-1 or group chat, we all deserve to feel heard as we all came here for
that same reason.Empathy and validation can go a long way for a silent room, it shows others who are hesitant that someone is actually listening and caring for them :)
@Fluffysheep8 empathy is super important, I agree. It definitely helps make participants feel that they're not alone and can encourage them to help create that same positive environment for others within the group setting.
@ASilentObserver
Discussion: How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen?
I visualize the ideal group support and group room where each person firstly tries to greet anyone new joining in and share time for everyone fo talk about their experiences and have each other listen and reciprocate. Where as a leader I would mainly be in the group to remind everyone of what to consider like basic rules and etiquette, and answer questions that no one else at the moment will know about where each person would otherwise essentially be a leader in that we’re all encouraging each other to be supported and that we’re all striving for the same goals to grow and make the progress we can
One thing I need to make it happen, or something I can do as a leader is fo add in the expectations or objective of the group that everyone in it is responsible for creating the ideal group, for emulating a welcoming behavior and will think of one another as themselves
@Mari228
Thanks for your input Mari! I agree the room should be welcoming/inviting and foster a safe space for everyone! Not everyone can get a long but its important that everyone tries to make everyone else feel welcome, especially for the newer members/listeners!
@Mari228
I agree people might not agree with everyone but people need to be respectful and have a safe space for people who are talking
@Mari228 It's good to allow participants get to know each other to make each other feel very welcomed and feel a sense of belonging to the group 😊. I also agree that's important to make sure everyone knows the goal and expectations of the group session, and for a group leader to help encourage them and make feel they are a part of something which would eventually influence them to help each other in the process as well as learning from each other throughout the discussion.
@ASilentObserver
How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen?
I visualize ideal group support as a group session where all members/listeners are being validated and listened to. An ideal room is one where everyone is welcoming and encouraging each other to participate and be engaged. It is okay if there is a little disorganization or conflict as long as everyone is being supported and heard.
@Endure777
I agree especially because disorganize and conflict is how we learn where we need to fix things but everyone can still be kind even if they dont agree with something.
Discussion: How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen? My ideal group support and group room as a group leader would be that everyone is listening to the person talking and that new people in the chat just listen until the person is done talking before new people talk.
@blissfulTouch29 I agree with this a lot. It can be difficult to notify newcomers to the ongoing discussion within a chatroom setting when a participant is currently sharing. The Sharing Circle is a big example of that, as there are limited features that would benefit uninterrupted shares. As for other types of discussions, it's probably more easier to help participants pay attention to each other, especially to whoever is sharing their thoughts.
It would be wonderful if new members who enter the room would be aware of the sharing.
Some are aware and adjust quickly, but not everyone are so aware.
We do have a solution where new enterers are informed of a sharing going on,
I believe that there could perhaps be more of that used when someone is sharing
and someone new enters, so they are informed right away.
Thank you for an amazing answer!
✨💙✨
✨
@AnnaSilverberg
Thank you! There should be a way to pin comments to notify new members on group chats
@ASilentObserver
Discussion: How do you visualize ideal group support and group room as a group leader? What is one thing you need to make it happen?
I want to be able to provide a safe and welcoming space for my ideal group setting. I believe it's important that as a group leader I would acknowledge each and every participant that joins in, and make sure they are welcomed and feel they have a space where they can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts throughout the discussion. Empathy is also a big factor when participants may share their own experiences or hard stories that can either be relevant to the discussion. I must also be aware of my limits, as all group leaders are not the same, otherwise it would negatively affect the way I would manage a group as well as interacting with the participants.
One thing I need to make it happen is to make sure no participant feels left out during a discussion since the chat system is still quite far from being perfect (although the latest update so far as of the date of this post has improved immensely), and a full group could eventually make newer participants feel lost and confused throughout the conversation given that the many chat messages would be constantly moving as participants send their messages around the same time every minute.
@OakSerenity great reflection and plan going forward
@OakSerenity @ASilentObserver
i think you raise a very important point about knowing your limits as a Leader and recognizing when those limits may interfere in a chat. Recognizing my limits is still one of my biggest hurdles!
