Working in Groups

I regularly participate in #lrnchat. 

From their website: "#lrnchat is an online chat over the social messaging service Twitter. #lrnchat is on Thursdays at 8:30-9:30pm ET/5:30-6:30pm PT. Participants are people interested in the topic of learning from one another and who want to discuss how to help other people learn in formal, informal, social and mobile ways. The official Twitter account is @lrnchat"

For the week of February 20, the topic for #lrnchat was "Working in Groups".

Here are some of the questions that we discussed as a group and my responses to each question. 

@lrnchat: Q1) In groups you participate in, what makes them work better? #lrnchat

• A1) Trust, collaboration, clear goals and willingness to convince or be convinced #lrnchat
• A1) I work best within groups that work towards a common goal and leave their roles and egos outside the room! #lrnchat

@lrnchat Q2) What leads to better group performance? #lrnchat

• A2) Goals, specific timelines, planning key deliverables and establishing communication protocols = better performance #lrnchat
• A2) Taking calculated risks, allowing everyone to ‘shine’ and investing in that moment/effort completely = better performance
• A2) Recognizing and appreciating diversity and finding a way to make different skills and talent count = better group performance 
• A2) Lack of clear communication is perhaps the weakest link in a group performance. Not a weak person but a weak process. #lrnchat

@lrnchat: Q3) What impedes group problem-solving? #lrnchat

• A3) When groups start to solve ‘people’ rather than ‘problems’!  #lrnchat
• A3) “Solutions” impede problem solving. The group should not arrive with solutions instead they must generate them together. #lrnchat

@lrnchat: Q4) How does emotional intelligence help working in groups? #lrnchat

• A4) Emotional intelligence can help in better communication and in understanding the fine print :)  #lrnchat
• A4) Emotional intelligence can also help the group moderator add some organized chaos to the discussion. #sayyestothemess #lrnchat

@lrnchat: Q5) What other practices foster group problem-solving? #lrnchat

• A5) Time, attention, abilities, processes, spaces, roles and responsibilities and communication foster group problem solving #lrnchat
• A5) Trust, fun, appreciation, recognition and implementation of the solutions fosters continued positive performance #lrnchat
• A5) Leaving the problems and discussions in the room and not bringing it back to work or home fosters group problem solving #lrnchat

@lrnchat: Q6) How can better group problem-solving be facilitated? #lrnchat

• A6) Facilitator must stay neutral and objective and have a structured process to help group arrive at solutions #lrnchat
• A6) Read this somewhere: Facilitators must be in control, but not controlling #lrnchat

If you like the questions and my responses, you can check out the transcript for the complete chat. There were some fantastic insights shared by the group. You are welcome to join us next time! There's lots to learn and share.