Some of the positive group functions that should be promoted include:
- Planning together and setting mutual goals. This encourages the participants to
depend on each other. Working together as equals in the group helps to build
confidence and cooperation.
- Being responsible as individuals and committed to a task for the sake of the
whole group. This promotes dependability.
- Good communication between members. Poor communication can cause
misunderstanding and bad feelings. Good communication builds trust and
strengthens relations between members. It needs to be two-way, sharing and
listening. It needs to be open to the whole group, not done in small ‘cliques’.
Breaking into small groups at irregular intervals to work on common interests or
projects allows a shy participant to open up and can also allow a break from
possible personality conflicts.
- Peer tutoring - Find ways for the participants to teach, demonstrate, or
illustrate the things they are learning. (When we learn something, and then we
must teach it, we learn it better. We retain it longer. We help ourselves to
understand more about it.)
- Peer evaluation, group evaluation, and group reflection all allow the participants
to move towards self-assessment.
- Development of group skills (team-building, group dynamics, problem-solving,
conflict management, etc.).
- Providing plenty of positive feedback: recognition of achievement.
Group Training or Workshops
Group meetings also offer an opportunity to organize workshops or training
sessions to improve the members’ understanding of useful topics or skills
improvement. Examples:
- Group participation and processes such as decision making, group dynamics,
leadership, planning of group activities, budgeting, cost analysis, basic
bookkeeping, monitoring and evaluation, and negotiating and bargaining.
- Specialized training (to suit the groups’ & project’s needs) Subjects could
include hand-tool safety, health, sanitation, first-aid, writing to an audience,
sewing, introduction to computers, desk-top publishing, genealogy, etc.
- Outings, Field Trips and Guests
Don’t get stuck in a rut, get out and enjoy time together! Bring in a fresh face!
