Article Index

Assessing your group

In summary, there are many styles of leader­ship and formats possible for a group. However, when a group keeps losing members, it is important for the leader to ask why. Is it because there are members that feel left out, with their needs not addressed? Is it because the leader is the wrong person to be leading the group? Is the group not informative enough or lacking in any fun? Is it burn-out of the leader, a particular important member, or the group as a whole?

Successful groups may have a number of active and knowledgeable members. If the group is large, and the physical setting allows it, smaller groups can be formed for specific topic discussions for a specified period of time.

Running a group is a chore done out of love. For whatever reason, the leaders give a lot of themselves, with usually little or no training in group work. Many support group leaders learn by trial and error.

If a group fails, it can be helpful to figure out why, but it is best done without finger-pointing or blame, either of others, or of yourself.