Lesson 1: Components of an Effective Group
Number Of Members and Activity Level Of The Group
Depending on the type of group you envision, the number of members may become important to you down the road. If you are looking to have an intimate group where everyone can feel comfortable discussing their most private fears, a small group of only 20 members may be large enough. However, if your group's main reason for existence is to talk about the current availability of classic car parts, a limit may not be needed or wanted.
Asking, and then listening, to the group's members can also tell you if your group is getting too big. Paying attention to the clues that your members are giving you before you ask can be difficult. However, if a new member joins and introduces themselves to the group and only you welcome them, something is wrong. Don't be afraid to ask, 'Have we gotten too big?'
No matter how big your group is, the numbers will not mean a thing if no one uses the group. Most, but not all, support groups utilize message boards, email, or chat rooms. If you have 400 members, and only 10 of them use the group, you effectively have only 10 members. You should not expect every member to use the group on a regular basis though. About 30% to 50% of the members will feel most comfortable seeing what everyone else has done, and they might offer their own input on occasion. This should be expected, and welcomed. These members are getting what they need from the group.
Other members may need a slight push to get them to post to the group. This can be in the form of a monthly 'roll call', or someone else in the group may have a question or concern that they feel comfortable answering. This should be encouraged, and also welcomed. The owner and/or manager of the group should keep an eye out for the person that finally posts and then does not receive a reply. This person will eventually leave the group because they were not acknowledged.
It is up to the group owner or manager to keep the group going. They are the leader and should be active and encourage other to be active by asking and answering questions, leading discussions, and providing information relevant to the group. No one wants to join a group with little activity, it will not benefit them and there are many other groups in the sea.
