Special Considerations

Large meetings and meetings that extend for more than an hour offer the opportunity to work with groups of various sizes. People sometimes need to work alone, sometimes in pairs, sometimes in small groups, and sometimes in larger groups. Solitude gives people a chance to think things through. Writing or taking a walk are good ways to provide this time for reflection. Working in pairs or trios provides a safe space for people to share ideas. In groups of two or three, people get to know each other in a way that they are not able to do in a larger group. We use large meetings when we want to build a critical mass for change, small groups when we want to develop the details.

Use mixed groups and homogeneous groups as needed. Mixed groups include people with different views or from different parts of the organization. They are important when you want to create innovative solutions or to examine the whole from a variety of viewpoints. Homogeneous groups consist of people with the same point of view. They are valuable when you want to tap into a particular viewpoint. For example, you might have all the supervisors meet together to prepare a report reflecting their perspective on an issue.