Group Agreements for Workshops and Meetings

Once you`ve agreed on your group agreement, make sure it`s visible to everyone – ideally, have it written on a whiteboard, flipchart, or overhead projector. The difference between ground rules and group agreements may be for some semantics if the policy-making process is the same. The important variable is that a traditional “rule” is imposed, while an agreement is co-designed by an entire group. If you are working with a group that is working on a long-term project or working together for a longer period of time, it is advisable to spend a little more time developing a long-term group agreement. Taking more time when deciding on a group agreement can sometimes seem a bit frustrating, but the more time you invest at the beginning of the process, the more time you save at a later date. 6. Feelings occur – recognizes that at some point in the group, people may experience feelings such as pain, sadness, boredom, or anger. An agreement in this area shows respect and opens the door for people to express feelings. Unlike “ground rules”, a community agreement is often formed by the group at the beginning of a meeting (there`s a twist to that – more on that in a moment). These commitments can help create a safer space, be mentioned in conflicts, and set the tone and focus on your time together.

You should allow about 30 to 40 minutes to conclude a detailed group agreement. These chords were provided by Ferananda Ibarra, Chris Corrigan, Krisztina Kun, Trilby Smith, Katy Golinsky, Gray Miller Creative, Ankit Chhabra, wolf, Nadja Petranovskaja, Brandy Agerbeck, Natalie Ord, Monica Brasov-Curca, Christine Martell, Jill Banting, Rachel Marcuse, Ken Lima-Coelho, Mark Busse, Julie Gieseke. When is it better to propose principles to the group, and when is it better for a group to create its own? For my graphic moderation training workshops, I could start the room with a poster like the one in the image above – and ask the group if they have any changes or additions. Adjusting the sound from the front of the room works well – but only in low-conflict situations. For years, I`ve always asked groups to write them down together, but in short meetings or focus groups, when time is very precious or the group isn`t getting together for a high-stakes conversation, it can seem trivial to ask the group to participate in these container building activities. Apprenticeship contracts differ slightly from the group agreement. While group agreement focuses on how a group behaves during meetings or workshops, a learning contract identifies what they need to have the best learning environment. Making these decisions as a group is much more stimulating than having a moderator who sets “rules” that anyone can follow. In addition, people are much more likely to respect and implement an agreement to which they have contributed. This will make your job as a moderator much easier.

In case of problems or conflicts, you can refer to this agreement (e.B. we have all agreed from the beginning that it is better for only one person to speak at a time…). Group agreements are a useful tool to put your event (meeting, class, workshop, etc.) on track and keep it on track. They help a group agree on how they will work together in a respectful and effective way. This, in turn, allows people to interact in a more cooperative way and maintain respect for each other. 4. The law must exist – supports people who do not want to talk in groups without asking them to explain themselves. And remember that newcomers or latecomers have not reached an agreement, so take the time to explain to them and ask for their consent to the agreement (you can always do this during a break). If they want to change it, talk to the whole group until everyone agrees. But I recently returned from a Lewis Deep Democracy party, with more clarity.

Community agreements, or “safety rules” in LDS jargon, can be a profound way to build trust and security in conflict resolution. And they don`t have to be the first thing we do together (!). One of Deep Democracy`s trainers explained how it can be a decision to stop and ask groups to create their “safer rules” (which the group needs to feel safer and do their job well together) before they get into conflict or go further. For example, it could be in the middle of the meeting. When emotions are heightened and we ask people to name what they really need, it can help the group be more honest about what they need to participate. And, she said, when the group asks for rules early in the meeting, she knows they`re already on the sidelines. Aha! So we can ask groups to create their own agreements from scratch, at a key time when we want to spend a lot of time together. There are many ways to create group agreements. When deciding which one to use, you can consider some of the following: whether the group will work together in the long run, how controversial the topic of the meeting or workshop is, how much time you have, and how much confidence the group has in you as a moderator. While agreements must be written by the participants themselves, the following describes 11 common elements that promote a safe group environment[2]. If the group does not manage these items itself, this list can be used as a chat prompt during the development process. For groups that work together over a longer period of time, it may be helpful to spend a little more time developing a longer-term group agreement.

You can use a process like this. While it`s sometimes a bit frustrating to take so much time for a group chord, you`ll save that time later. This will make your event much smoother. The best time to negotiate a group agreement is at the beginning of a training meeting or workshop. The purpose of a group agreement is to create an open and respectful environment where teams can work together creatively and where individuals feel safe and share their ideas and opinions. Group agreements (no rules![ 1]) help create safe and caring spaces that enhance any group activity. They serve as a set of clear and jointly created guidelines that help participants feel comfortable with each other in an atmosphere of safety, respect and trust. Everyone shares responsibility for the experience and once developed, a group can periodically review the agreements to see if they still work and make changes if problems arise. The most important thing is that the group agreement is decided by the group.

As a facilitator, you need to set up the process and steer it in the right direction, but behavioral statements should only be defined by the group. That the group makes these decisions is more empowering than when someone else sets “rules” that everyone can follow (no one likes to be told what to do). In addition, team members are much more likely to respect and follow an agreement in which they have invested and contributed in some way. This will make your job as a trainer or meeting facilitator much easier. There are many ways to create a group agreement. When deciding on the best method, you should consider the following: Duration of the workshop and whether the team will work together for a long time (e.B. Project teams), if the topic is controversial and leads to disagreements and mixed opinions, how much time you have available, and if you need to work with a new group and develop some form of trust or relationship with the team. .

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