'Break into groups and ...' *groan*

Facilitators, trainers and group workers beware!

How often do you have in your sessions, plans and agendas and chunks of time where people are asked to break into groups, work on something and then .... report back?

Yes it can be a powerful group process ... but when I have had the pleasure of being a group participant recently, I have sometimes seen it as a lazy, quick and unfocused option of choice for many group leaders!

Groups can take quite a while to get to the heart of the topic or activity.

It sucks to be in a group and not have enough time to go through some great storming and norming before you perform.

Before you jump up and shout about how you see the value of group work as THE most important thing in your world, just check your diary for how long ago it was that YOU had to do the group thing.

I think it's too often a 'go to' activity without uncovering the real need, outcome and purpose of the important work.

There are other options : singular/solo activities, pair activities, whole group, mentor discussions ...

Be sure you :
Plan and prepare.
Uncover the real need and purpose of the team and session.
Have a range of activity options at your disposal.

And if things get tricky or you don't know how you'll fill in time, step out of your normal routine and don't break people in to groups.

Go on, try it. Just a few times.

Your groups will love you for it!