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
@ASilentObserver
Discussion: What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
Although the focus should try to be on the similarities between members of the group I believe it's important to acknowledge the differences too. We all have our own experiences and ways of thinking that we bring to a topic and I'd be wary of discounting these.
It reminds me of intersectional feminism. Some feminist groups don't want to talk about black women's issues because it's about women in general not racism however for balck women there is an intersection between the two and to talk about one without the other does a disservice.
I think as a group leader it's important to highlight the differences in a positive way e.g. "Oh I see how your experiences with your family mean this coping skill might not work for you (name)". Whilst promoting the connectedness of the group e.g. "I think we can all understand the frustration of a coping skill being out of our reach".
I think it's important to show that even though we might have come together for a specific purpose we will all have different experiences and viewpoints. Being on a different place on your journey doesn't mean that you can't connect with parts of someone else's. The situations may be different but we can all connect with each others feelings.
A phrase I like to use is "that's really interesting, I've never thought of that before, thank you for sharing that with us." and then pulling the conversation back to the similarities.
I think very one is unique and we all have learn how to work together even so all have different veiews of life experiences and how we deal with things. First we have to find commen ground. It ok if we do not agre with everything but we we have to do it in a respectful way and be open minded.
@ASilentObserver
Diversity is great on 7cups, the benefit is that not only do we not know someone's age, race, religious background etc, we are able to support people in different ways.
I do find the many many communities and subcommunities very confusing, I think they should all be under one topic to:
- Clean up the forum
- Make all interlinked issues more accessible for all
- Make managing and moderating easier.
- Make us more able to check posts prior to them actually being allowed on the group.
Someone posted a "count to one million" post, and I find this very annoying, confusing and inappropriate, for some reason, I couldn't report it due to an "API" error, but it causes so many unwanted and unneeded notifications etc.
I think the communities as well as subcommunities is a great idea but I do believe these should be moderated before being posted.
This is one area I'd be happy to help in and try to enhance, this will allow posts to be moved to the right communities and make things simpler for members and listeners alike.
7cups is in a league of it's own, it is spectacular and if I had this as a child, my life could possibly be much different now, and it is important that when members come, the process is much smoother for them and simpler to use,
I do find the site has more available than most but that this can be and should be simplified.
We do have members with learning difficulties, mental difficulties and emotional difficulties and this could impact their willingness to continue using 7 cups.
One big symptom of ADHD is that people cannot focus for long periods of time, and as I do, I get bored very easy, we have the knowledge and passion to make it to the top and to really change things for the better and to help people the best we can, but during that process, we lose our passion, and this is why I've been away a couple of days.
@iCareUK
Edit: The situations I have discussed above are to enhance the site for those less advantaged whilst making things simpler for all, there is so many pages, tabs and links and we can simplify this so that we can be more diverse and inclusive.
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
While most members find common qualities or experiences, I think it matters that members find the time, mental and emotional bandwidth to listen and empathize. As a group leader, it's important to find those connections and always allow people the opportunity to share and relate. Without that interchange, there will be no community.
@BrightandGentleHand
Sharing and relating and bringing the community together is so so important. Such a great point <3
Tabby
@ASilentObserver
Discussion: What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
I think it is great that we have members with diverse backgrounds. The diversity in a group will encourage us to be more open-minded. Sometimes people may come from the same country but the experience they have are totally different from each other. The different experiences shaped their characters. And vice versa, you can share similar traits despite coming from different countries.
I found it interesting that I have similar personality and traits with someone who are thousand miles away from me.
@VictoriaLove7
I think that finding similarities between yourself and someone with a completely different background is a valuable skill. I'm so glad you brought this up in this discussion!
@VictoriaLove7, it is indeed a learning experience! I agree with broad here: Thank you for bringing it up!
Discussion: What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
"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." - This is similar to what I mentioned in my response for the last discussion. Every individual is unique, with several factors that contribute to the differences they may have with another unique individual (as mentioned before, theirs factors like demographics, cultures, ones own perspective towards themselves and the topic at hand, etc.). The bigger picture that leads towards unity and progress is keeping in mind the common goal/interest of the group
@SirenOfSerenity, I agree! It should always be possible to find common grounds for understanding. The person hosting should identify them and try to add those perspectives when the gap seems to large otherwise.
@ASilentObserver
Who you are meaning your race religion and basically what describes you does NOT define what you can do. As long as your able to do the job right and have people in the community trust you I think it doesn’t matter about anything else. To do this though it takes a group of different people because I have heard of the saying/actual fact no two snowflakes are alike. The same is with humans. No two humans are alike even if you look the same what you can do and what you like and all that are totally different. If a member was not abiding by this or trying for act or think differently I would ask them to think of some positive qualities about themselves and than again about someone else and try and get them to realize that “it doesn’t matter who you are but what you can do”
@Supergirl134679
This is the most crucial point I've seen raised. Although your cultural, racial, sexual, gender etc... identities can mean a lot to you as an individual, I don't believe that they should define you in a public space such as a group chat.
Thank you for being so transparent and adamant about this.
@ASilentObserver
@ASilentObserver
What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
Even though groups may look to be struggling in the same ways - such as "anxiety support" - there is also diversity within these support groups too. Theres of factors which leaders must take into consideration- as people who are in anxiety support (and other groups) could be struggling with all different types off anxiety at different severities. It is really important to acknowledge this and make sure everyone is supported in an empathetic way - and understand everyone in the group may percieve information in a different way (even if they are all in the same type of group).
Tabby
@TabbyCat97
Agreed. Do you think 7 cups as a whole is diverse?
@TabbyCat97
Well said tabby! It's difficult to be a generic cap on struggles when everyone's experience could be wildly different given the many different factors that exist.
@ASilentObserver
I think fostering a sense of diversity is essential in developing empathy within the individual. So therein, when a group is diverse, it supports everyone in this skill development. I appreciated the discussion's attention to this. The ability of a leader to look through all the differences in the group and find commonality is a true talent.
I think all of those games like "one of these things is not like the other," "I spy," and other childhood games led to the development of this skill. I have a knack for finding the commonalities and differences in the groups I've shown.
@broadfemmelovelive femme I really liked what you said "he ability of a leader to look through all the differences in the group and find commonality is a true talent." thank you for your thoughts on this :)
@broadfemmelovelive I really enjoyed reading your reply!
@broadfemmelovelive
Agreed.
@ASilentObserver
Discussion: What is your takeaway on diversity among members as the group leader?
