 | Dick and Doris Kelsey
own and operate The Red Barn, as well as the King's Camp and King's Achievement Center located next to Lake Afton. Dick has been a public speaker for 25 years and has led statewide organizations for 15 years. He has planned and executed hundreds of business conferences and meetings. Dick and Doris can be reached by phone at (316) 794-3320, or you can send an email to: contactus@meetatthebarn.com, or visit them at The Red Barn located on MacArthur Road next to Lake Afton. |
Management & Training
2004-08-01 08:22:00
How to improve group dynamics
: How do you improve group dynamics?
ANSWER: When doing training or having a planning meeting, how do you improve the interaction and dynamic of your group? The setting: Where your group meets will have a direct effect on the dynamic of your group. Is the room the right size for the number in your group? A large room and a small group can have a negative impact on your meeting. Do you set in a circle or in rows? If your group is less than 20 then a circle will increase interaction. If writing is required then you will need tables or some means for people to write. Is the room airy, well lighted and does it "feel good". Most people do not like to feel closed in. Even the color of the room can affect the attitude of the group. Soft colors will make for a softer feel to the meeting. The leader: The tone and effectiveness of any meeting is set by the leader of the group. I often teach "everything rises and falls on leadership." This is especially true of a training session or planning meeting. The attitude of the leader will determine the attitude of the group. If the leader has a positive "can do" attitude, the others present will adapt the same frame of mind. If the leader is in a negative frame of mind, the group will quickly become negative. A group leader can create a positive atmosphere with some of the following techniques: A. Compliment some of the people in the group as you start the meeting. B. Have a joke or humorous story to tell as the meeting begins. C. Have some of the people in the group share something positive they had experienced in the past few days. D. Do a group "cheer" such as they do with most Wal-Mart employee meetings. E. Start the meeting with a skit that leads into the subject of the meeting. The results: Any sessions should be geared to some result or action. To meet for the sake of meeting has little value. What actions do you want people to take as a result of attending your training session. To get results, have the participants write down two or three things they plan to do within the next week as a result of their being at your session. You might even have them share those with the group since that will tend to reinforce their determination to actually follow through. Be sure their goals are specific and achievable. Then tell them how you, as the leader, intend to follow up. Do you want them to email you when they accomplish what they said they would do? Will you call them? Remember most people will only do something if they know someone will be following up on them. You can have a tremendous meeting. But it will only be such if you decide to make it such.
