Keep the agreement for future meetings or workshops with the same group, but check each time to make sure everyone is still happy with it. For example, you can add something to the agreement. 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. Whether you start with a list of suggestions or ask a group to make their own deals, you`ll see what works for the group. And if I am a participant, here are some guidelines that I could personally suggest to create the conditions for good cooperation. If you have other ideas for group agreements or would like to share how to use apprenticeship contracts, comment on them in the box below. Other methods of group organization may be suitable for workshops or shorter meetings.
You should try to finish this in less than 15 minutes and make the agreement visible to everyone – ideally, have them write on a whiteboard or use loose-leaf board paper and hang it on the wall. 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, as described in the process below. While it`s sometimes a bit frustrating or overkill to take so much time for a group chord, you`ll save that time later and, as a result, your event will run much more smoothly. 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. Also ask yourself if the work should be divided into several parts. Defining community agreements or ground rules can foster a better dialogue with yourself, the group and the community. As Monica Brasov-Curca shared with me on Facebook: “In a wonderful dialogue training, the trainer divided the basic rule exercise into 3 parts.
1.) Community Agreement 2.) Workshop conditions 3.) Intentions of the participants. And we helped shape all three. it`s really beautiful. 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. Together, we know a lot. We want to honor the fact that the group has wisdom and that the answers are in the room. Anyone can be an expert. To arouse this, we can be curious and respectful of each other. Some steps to achieve this may involve promoting questions instead of assumptions and allowing everyone in the room to lead.
Recently, I have been rethinking community agreements. 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. Finally, you need to check the agreement on all the points of the whole group. if someone is not satisfied with a certain point as to what is causing this concern and how it could be better formulated. 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. Take at least 30 minutes to reach a group agreement. Once everyone has agreed on the group agreement, make sure it`s visible to everyone – ideally, have them written on a whiteboard, flipchart, or overhead projector. Finally, you need to check that you agree on all the points of the whole group. Other ways to create group agreements may be better suited for shorter meetings or workshops, or for groups that don`t deal with emotional or controversial topics.
These include: There are many ways to create a group agreement. When deciding on the best method, you need to take into account the following: the duration of the workshop and whether the team will work together for a long time (for example. 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. If you have additions to your project teams or workgroups, take the time to explain the group agreement with them and allow them to make suggestions for improvement. This can be done during the break or at the beginning of the workshop as an icebreaker. If they want to add something to the deal, make sure you have a discussion with the whole group until they agree. Once you`ve used questions to craft different ideas from group members, go through the list one by one and keep discussing for better understanding and further clarification. Discuss how these ideas can be used for the workshop. If you create the agreement while the group is together, wait at least 30 minutes to create a group agreement. If you`re doing this through a group email or online forum, give this process a few days to make sure everyone has participated, and check the final agreement when the group is together to make sure everyone is happy with it. (Be open to optimization as a 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.
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. We then take about fifteen minutes to discuss these contracts before finally reaching an agreement. It is important that the group and the trainer fully understand what each point means. If someone is not sure, then it should be addressed and clarified. Once everyone is satisfied and the contracts are agreed, they must be signed by everyone. You sign the contract created by the group and each person in the group signs your contract. These contracts are then placed on the wall for the duration of the training and used if necessary.
There are many ways to create group agreements. When deciding which one to use, you can consider some of the following: Whatever tools we use, we want to make deals where people need to learn what they need together as openly and safely as possible. .