Setting the ground rules or group understandings together will create ownership of them by all members.
Spending some time together as a group, getting to know each other and setting down what you all agree is important in running the group, will set you off on a strong footing. Having some agreed values and group “rules” or “understandings” can help the group to keep thriving and keep on the tasks and topics at hand, not having to fight fires and solve inter-personal issues.
How do you set your group understandings?
- The group leader needs to welcome everyone and talk about the benefits of having some understandings about how you want to move forward.
- The leader can explain that ‘group rules or norms’ will help your group run well, and have everyone feeling included, valued and respected.
- You can have your group brainstorm what you think is important in running successful group meeting. Alternatively you can give each person some paper to write them down in private. (The group leader should be able to gauge which method suits members best.)
- Then collect everyone’s thoughts into a list; and make them into a list. You might call your list “Group Values” “group understandings” “How we work”.
- The last part of the session is a combined group effort to get your rules or understandings into a clear, succinct list, that everyone agrees will help the group work well.
Here are some examples of group rules:
- Everyone is welcome to have a say
- We listen to each other, and show respect for each other
- We have one person speaking at a time in groups
- We work to a consensus when decisions are to be made
- Even if we disagree, we don’t judge others
- We always treat each other with respect
- We work towards the positive
- Personal Information we share in meetings is kept confidential
- We aim to share, support, learn and build each other up
- We are honest and we have fun
Where you can find more information
Guide for Setting Ground Rules – EdChange: www.edchange.org/multicultural/activities/groundrules.html
Establishing Ground rules for Groups: http://pages.jh.edu/~virtlab/misc/Group_Rules.htm
Establishing Classroom Ground Rules | The Teaching Centre: https://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/resources/inclusive…/establishing-ground-rules/
Co-authored by Developmental Disability WA
The information on this page is also available as a downloadable Quick Guide, by clicking below. There are PDF and word versions.
