These 11 ground rules for effective meetings are offered as food for thought. How to Establish Team Ground Rules. Having clear ground rules to explain the process of group work and instructions on how to accomplish the assignment can help alleviate angst in both groups. Working in groups can be a particularly challenging experience for students who are introverts or dominating types (Taylor 2011). Don't allow these to be quelled out of a desire to keep the group on task, and strike a fair balance between progress and creativity. Reprinted with permission. A Ground Rule by any other name may possibly smell less. The term “discussion” is rooted similarly to … Establishing ground rules for classroom interactions and discussions can help to promote an inclusive learning environment for all participants. But I do think there's value in designating a small-group meeting once a year to go over the ground rules and purposes of your group. 14 Enable systematic working patterns. How to set ground rules Ground rules should be established at the beginning of a course, and the instructor should explain the purpose they serve (for example, to ensure that discussions are spirited and passionate without descending into argumentation, to ensure that everyone is heard, to ensure that participants work together toward greater understanding rather than contribute disjointed pieces). Consequently, teachers need to teach students how to work in a group. For example, "Today I'm going to work on being more assertive by telling the group what I'm thinking instead of keeping my thoughts to myself. Increase participation and the sharing of idea… It can be your first project together as a group and will help everyone have a feeling of ownership in the group. It is important that groups feel able to include ground rules which are appropriate for the particular people making up the group. It is from Chapter 14, by the same name in 500 Tips on Group Learning by Phil Race. Either way, it is important that you talk … The agility of teams is determined by many factors including the maturity of the team, the ability of the team to work well together and the overall alignment of the team with the strategic goals of the company. Successful businesses value the importance of group work. If you or your church feels better stating these more formally as a covenant, that's fine. Expectations (ground rules) regarding preparation for and attendance at group meetings, frequency and duration of meetings, and communication. Consequences for violating group ground rules are important. 10 Help group members to see the importance of keeping good records. Setting ground rules is one of the things we encouraged groups to do, so that everyone is clear about how to create an environment for growth in a group context. Kogan Page Limited, 120 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JN, UK. In order for group to be a safe place to explore our selves and our relationships with others it is important to have an environment of mutual respect. In this article, I describe a set of nine ground rules that your group or team can use to work more effect­ ively. There needs to be an output to look back upon. They can prevent issues of incivility. Developing ground rules, or a code of conduct, with the class helps to foster community by balancing the learning needs of the individual with those of the group. They describe specific actions that team members should take to act effectively. Every voice deserves to be heard, even if people don't initially agree with the point of view being expressed. Once issues have been aired, and group decisions have been made as fully as possible, they convention of collective responsibility needs to be applied for successful group processes. Instead, take the approach of having your group work together to establish a few simple ground rules. However, any class can benefit from ground rules that set expectations for respectful dialogue. Group work relies on multiple perspectives. 4 Affirm collective responsibility. Setting ground rules is part of setting expectations for team performance. They are meant to be self-governing. This can be refreshing for instructors. This does not mean that everyone has to do the same thing. Forming Ground Rules (Creating Norms) Developed by Marylyn Wentworth. Group members are mutually responsible for not disclosing any information about group members to anyone outside of the group. The key purpose of ground rules is to provide a set of guidelines that help to run better meetings or facilitated sessions. While learning how to respectfully disagree with one another is highly valued, it is expected that any disagreements will be handled in a respectful way. Group members also need to be prepared to contribute by building on the ideas of others and validating each other's experiences. © 2020 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Giving to Counseling and Psychological Services, Trauma-Informed Services for Survivors of Sexual Violence, Gender Affirming Services For Trans/Nonbinary Students, Outreach & Education Social Work Internship, Post Doctoral Fellowship in Professional Psychology, Post Master of Social Work Fellowship (MSW), "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired”*, Finding Your Community Provider (Database Included). UP NEXT: If I Credit Them, Students Will Collaborate After Class, ------------------------------------- 700 words -----------------------------. Successful group work relies on truthfulness. Rotate the responsibility for summing up the position of the group regarding the tasks in hand and recording this. Therapists keep all information that comes up in group sessions confidential. “Group work in the classroom and elsewhere commonly goes wrong because the participants are following inappropriate ground rules,” they write. It covers rules around personal conduct and working practice, as well as an outline of why setting group rules is a useful exercise at the start of a project. Distributed by Stylus Publishing Limited, 2283 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166, USA. Ground rules help to define expectations and drive productive behaviors, it’s important that they’re aligned to the realities of life in your company. Discouragement of outside friendships with group members. The right of Phil Race to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The principle, 'You can let yourself down, but it's not OK to let the group down' underpins successful group work. Encourage group members not to hold back from putting forward their view. Additionally, group assignments can be useful when there are a limited number … The following suggestions include some of the issues and starting points from which groups can be encouraged to agree their own set of ground rules. Successful group work relies on truthfulness. The first step in the process is to establish ground rules and norms for interaction. If you decide to discontinue group, we ask that you come to one more session to let the group know and say "goodbye. Organizations need to facilitate effective team work in order to increase productivity, get innovative ideas, gain new strengths and skills and establish strong bonds between employees. Group work also introduces more unpredictability in teaching, since groups may approach tasks and solve problems in novel, interesting ways. Show up and CHOOSE to be present (treat this as the most important conversation you can be in and silence or put away technology) Participate 100%; Everyone participate, no one dominate; Share the airtime Land on between 3-5 ground rules and after introducing and explaining what each one means to the group, consider asking the group for additions. It can be productive to review and renegotiate the ground rules from time to time, creating new ones as solutions to unanticipated problems that might have arisen. These recordings are confidential and are deleted after being viewed. At the start of any team project, you should spend your first meeting agreeing on … Group members also need to be encouraged to value the opinion of others as well as their own. Some people bristle at the idea of setting “Ground Rules” because it sounds too restrictive and punitive. It was important to know the rules before you joined in, or else you’d quickly find yourself out of luck and ‘it’. establish the purpose of the dispute resolution process at hand and shape how meetings will be conducted Of course, if you go into a group and announce, “Here are the small group rules!” others might feel a bit put off. The ground rules work for all kinds of groups­ executive teams, boards, work teams, committees or task forces, union-management teams, and groups with Roger Schwarz is an organizational psychologist and president and founder of Respect refers to the way in which we talk to one another and how we navigate the way our values and biases impact our ability to be supportive of one another. Meeting these expectations will build trust and improve accountability. It is important that groups feel able to include ground rules which are appropriate for the particular people making up the group. Share time so that all can participate. It’s important to know and agree to the rules so that the team is cohesive, the team gets things done and is as productive as possible. Successful group work relies on truthfulness. ", Confidentiality: What is talked about in group stays in the group. 7 Everyone needs to take a fair share of the group work. Such ground rules are especially important when discussing controversial or otherwise challenging topics. 2 Foster a culture of honesty. Ground rules should encourage positive collaborative behaviors among all students. In this paper we will discuss a process fo… Use ground rules to help manage individual and group behavior during meetings and workshops. 9 Group should not always work to strengths, however! The work of a group can be achieved efficiently when tasks are allocated according to the experience and expertise of each member of the group. © Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305. Behavioral ground rules are more useful. 6 Spotlight the need for full participation. Activities in groups can be developmental in purpose, so task allocation may be an ideal opportunity to allow group members to build on areas of weakness or inexperience. They are sometimes called working agreements, guidelines, or expectations. Remind group members that they don't have to like people to work with them. In group work, as in professional life, people work with the team they are in, and matters of personal conflict need to be managed so they don't get in the way of the progress of the group as a whole. Encourage respectful listening; 2. It is best when the members of the group have agreed how the tasks will be allocated amongst themselves. These guidelines must be enforced by teachers, and students, in order for group work to be effective. Here are five to think incorporate into your group process or team setting. Accountability means not only being accountable for the physical work that a group member must deliver, but also attendance to group meetings, conduct, and behavior towards other group members, etc. Effective ground rules help: 1. The contract should focus on behaviours that will be expected of all group members and should only include those behaviours that are crucial to the group's … 8 Working to strengths can benefit groups. The posting below offers tips on establishing ground rules for groups. Whenever you hope to facilitate conversations on social justice concerns, whether preparing for a one-hour workshop or weaving such discussions into a year-long class, a vital first step is the development of guidelines for participation. Suite 4079 In group work, as in professional life, people work with the team they are in, and matters of personal conflict need to be managed so they don't get in the way of the progress of the group as a whole. 5 Highlight the importance of developing and practising listening skills. Issues that might arise during group work. Ground rules hold students accountable for their behavior. Ground rules are a short list of expectations to guide how a group works together. If for some reason a group member decides that they have to stop attending group we ask that they attend one final session to say goodbye to the other group participants. For a group to work effectively, it is important that you attend all scheduled sessions and be on time. Be patient when listening to others … Group work sometimes requires people to make personal needs and wishes subordinate to the goal of the group. Ground rules, or rules of engagement, are typically discussed and agreed to early during the formation of a team. 15 Cultivate the idea of group rules as a continuing agenda. Come to each group meeting with a goal that you want to work on. It is standard procedure for many groups to video record their sessions, which helps the leaders to provide the best treatment they can. To be effective, ground rules must be clear, consistent, agreed-to, and followed. Establishing a regular programme of meetings, task report backs and task allocation is likely to lead to effective and productive group performance. Online faculty development 100 times per year. Share all relevant information – If members of the team don’t share all of their information, this can … This leads towards everyone living with group decisions and refraining from articulating their own personal reservations outside the group. Discouragement of outside friendships with group members. It is important that groups feel able to include ground rules which are appropriate for the particular people making up the group. Why Establish Ground Rules? Gaining agreement around Ground Rules, or Norms, are important for a group that intends to work together on difficult issues, or who will be working together over time. Author: Mark Dawson (University of Bradford) Description: An overview of things to consider when setting ground rules for a group work project. While many public organizations use parliamentary procedure as a form of ground rules, such formal rules may not be sufficient or appropriate for guiding public discussion. You can lead meetings and discussions without ground rules, but did you ever leave an unstructured meeting with a headache? In today’s rapidly changing business environment teams are required to react quickly to change in order for companies to stay competitive and be more relevant in the marketplace. This is all the more valuable when other group members recognize that this is happening. 2 Foster a culture of honesty. You too can create ground rules to guide your team to greatness. However, it is worth reminding learners about the need to temper honesty with tact. 13 Help people to value creativity and off-the-wall ideas. Ask the team what ground rules they have seen/used that they would like to see during this meeting. However, in order to keep the group a safe and productive environment in which to work, we strongly discourage the development of close friendships or romantic relationships with other group members. A group needs to recognize when it is not functioning and be able to take corrective action. Ask for Input. Therefore, it is important that consequences for violating group ground rules be established from the start and that all … This often is one of the hardest expectations to adhere to because of the connections that are often made in group. 2 Foster a culture of honesty. Ground Rules . Ensure group work is divided fairly and evenly. 11 Group deadlines are sacrosanct. The various ground rules agendas suggested below should only be regarded as starting points for each group to adopt or adapt and prioritize. Explain what ground rules are and why they are important to team performance. ", Michigan Union Where articulated ground rules are missing, natural behavior patterns often emerge spontaneously. Set clear goals. Ground rules are statements of values and guidelines which a group establishes consciously to help individual members to decide how to act. 530 South State Street It often happens that over the semester group members may grow close and begin to care for and about one another. It’s the same situation for our team work and our meetings. Ground rules can be very useful indeed in group work contexts. Guide for Setting Ground Rules. They may be added to, or condensed, as the group progresses. 1 Create ownership of the ground rules. If the idea of working with your team to set “Rules” rubs you the wrong way, consider these alternatives: 3 Remind group members that they don't have to like people to work with them. http://www.styluspub.com/ ?Copyright, Phil Race, 2000. Let everyone participate. 12 Cultivate philanthropy. Suggest that it is as dishonest for group members to 'put up with' something they don't agree about, or can't live with, as it is to speak untruthfully. We also ask group members to refrain from sharing emails or connecting on social networking sites while group is in progress. “These include keeping good ideas to themselves, letting the most confident speakers dominate, never disagreeing with friends and never listening to … Your own ground rules will work much more effectively if they’re just that, your own. This often is one of the hardest expectations to adhere to because of the connections that are often made in group. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1308 View on a map, Connect With Us(734) 764-8312 - (24hrs) /umichCAPS /UMCAPS @umichCAPS, Our Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Web Accessibility Statement | Non-Discrimination Policy | U–M Gateway This can take the form of planning notes, minutes or other kinds of evidence of the progress of the work of the group. It is important, however, not to forget or abandon those ground rules that proved useful in practice, but which were not consciously applied. 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