Contents

C.1. Preamble

Games
C.2. Don't Make Me Laugh
C.3. Gibberish
C.4. Partner Conversations
C.5. The Word Wizzard
C.6. Guillotine
C.7. Listening Not Judging

C.8. Related Games

C.1. Preamble

Often groups begin with cliques, or form them, with stronger and weaker members in each little "power center" and rivalries, or insularity, may result from this phenomenon. These inequalities may even challenge the group leader's position, if allowed to go unchecked. On an individual level, too, there are always members who don't generally talk to one another, while others who are too shy to join in. It's not all harmonious, as has already been noted, but it can be improved!

If a working group is comparable to a bicycle wheel, with the members being the spokes and the moderator at the hub, then all the spokes must be equal in length and strength for the wheel to turn evenly. In the forming and storming stages of a group, the leader or moderator is working from the hub and forwards, backwards, inwards and outwards across the group. He or she is interested in facilitating and generating effective communication between all the participants, enhancing their familiarity with each other, so that they can feel comfortable and will be able to work together. This will also launch the third stage of group formation – "norming", where members adapt to each other and begin to share values, ideas and approaches to group life.

For this reason, it is sometimes most helpful to focus directly on the quality and directions of this internal communication in a structured manner - and the leader should use this opportunity to pair up those individuals who don’t normally interact much with each other.

C.8. Related Games