Effective Base Group Meetings

DO	DON’T
1. Schedule a regular weekly meeting time.	1. Meet haphazardly.
2. Show up in time.	2. Come late.
3. Be prepared. - bring materials needed for meeting - have necessary work completed	3. ‘Punt’ your preparation work. - forget important tools & materials - lower group’s productivity by not having groundwork completed -
4. Use assigned roles and rotate roles: - convener - recorder - facilitator -	4. Expect others to take care of the group.
5. Start with a “go ‘round” to check to see how everything is going with each group member.	5. Ignore life circumstances of members.
6. Have a purpose for the meeting and operate from a plan developed by the facilitator.	6. Let what you do ‘just happen’.
7. Stay on task.	7. Let your time be taken by extraneous ‘stuff’.
8. Share your ideas with your group.	8. Be critical of other members’ ideas.
9. Use active listening.	9. Talk to others or work on something else while someone is talking.
10. Check for understanding (facilitator leads go ‘round)	10. Assume everyone understands.
11. Pull your own weight.	11. Hitchhike.
12. Make everyone in the group responsible for effective group functioning.	12. Allow anyone else to hitchhike.
13. Come to consensus on: - assignment accuracy - minutes of meeting -	13. Allow one member to take responsibility for your accountability.
14. Agree on next meeting, roles and preparation before adjourning.	14. Leave without knowing next meeting time, required preparation and roles.
15. Assess how you function as a group each time before adjourning.	15. Assume effective groups just happen.