In this 5th video I will share another of the unique characteristics of a Strategic Conversations group. In the context of the group and its meetings "we're all in this together."

When we share the responsibilities the group stays vibrant - no one begins to burn out while their friends begin to feel guilty.

The Strategic Conversations peer-group is a "flattened organization" - everyone is considered an equal and shares in the responsibilities. There are no "bosses" or "subordinates" - no special treatment. Unless this coequal atmosphere exists you will be able to count how long your groups will function at its peak, in weeks.

With that said, it is human nature for some people to naturally assume a more leadership role than others. While we cannot change human nature, we can implement practices that keep the responsibilities equal. That is the number one reason for a process which insures that no one takes control - overwhelming their less assertive counterparts.

In the last video I spoke about the roles of facilitator and time-keeper for each meeting. I mentioned that these roles are rotated every meeting. This maintains shared responsibility and ownership for the operating of the group.

During a meeting, the facilitator is the host, the leader for that meeting. This does not, however, give unbridled license to the facilitator. The facilitator's role is to manage the meeting. A good facilitator is there to guide when needed, then soon out of the way. The stars of the show are the members discussing their business matters and getting feedback and ideas.

It is important at the outset of the group formation to explain the facilitator's role as a functional one, not a performance one. The objective in the meeting is the meaningful discussion amongst the members. All else is secondary. The facilitator is to get the meeting on tract and then let the discussions proceed within the time constraints of the agenda.

The same hold true for the timekeeper. The timekeeper's role is to track the time and nothing more.

The secret to success is simplicity. The simpler the meeting can be, the better. The purpose of the group is to be a source of feedback and perspective to provide each member with insight and confidence into his or her situation.

Therefore, from the outset, the group needs to know the policies. Here are some policies we recommend:

Each group member shares the responsibilities of the group equally. In many volunteer organizations, the work often falls to the 5 or 10% who are willing to take on the tasks required. Over time these individuals are likely to feel resentful, taken advantage of. The co-equal relationship of a Strategic Conversations group prevents this. Every member shares the responsibilities.

At the end of each meeting, the members collectively determine the facilitator and timekeeper for the next meeting. In the event a facilitator or timekeeper is absent, the group members will pitch in to fill that role.

The Strategic Conversations group is a simple, yet powerful process.

Keeping it simple and straight-forward is a good formula for success.

In the next video I will cover 21st century technology to enhance the group experience and provide easy communication.

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