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How to Lead Creative Groups - Part 4

Once a creative group is under way, the actual things the leader does will generally reflect the kind of things that are done in any other type of dynamic group: the occasional summary; the probing question with a purpose; the trick of making a statement every member of the group can agree with to gain their support and friendship; or the reverse, to make a contro­versial or antagonistic statement to excite interest. The leader who is aiming for total group participation, however, will keep in mind that he is trying to motivate people to work with him, and not against him. He must also be extremely careful to impress upon his group that he really wants their contributions.

Any group will need a summary of where they stand from time to time: what they have accomplished; how far they have to go; exactly what route they are expected to take in arriving there. You may give them this yourself, or you may ask your secretary or recorder to summarize briefly, and ask the members to correct or supplement that summary.

It is also up to the leader to remind the group at intervals that they are working within a time limit. This should be done in such a way as to encourage them to stay on the track, but not to get anxious or feel pressure.

Probably the most flexible and all-round useful tool to keep a group moving is the probing question. It is, of course, necessary that the leader's questions should be asked in such a way as to place a maximum responsibility on the group to reply. If possible, they should be phrased to show that the leader is not only accepting members of the group as individuals but is also confident of their ability to come up with good answers. Some examples of good questions are these:

To Get Discussion Started:

What do you think about this problem as stated? What has your experience been on this type of problem? Can anyone suggest the kind of facts we ought to have or know at this stage?

To Get More Participation:

How does what we have been saying so far sound to those of you who have been thinking about it? We've heard from a number of our members now; does anyone who hasn't spoken want to give us his thinking? What other phases of the problem have we missed cov­ering?

To Limit the Overactive Participant:

We appreciate the help you are giving us. However, it might be well to get some other thinking. Would some of you who have not spoken care to add your ideas? Or: You have made several interesting state­ments, and I wonder if someone else wants to add to them or modify them? Or, as a last resort: Since all our members haven't yet had an opportunity to speak, I wonder if you will hold off for a while?

To Orient the Discussion:

Where do we stand now in relation to our goal? For comparisons and a check, why don't I review my understanding of what we have said and the progress we've made so far? Your comment is interesting. But I wonder if it contributes to the chief problem?

To Keep Discussion Moving:

Do you think we have spent enough time on this phase of the prob­lem? Can we move on to another part of it? Have we covered this section of the problem enough that we can shift our attention to another area? We do have a time limit to meet; should we perhaps look at the next question we have to face?

To Press for a Decision:

Am I right in thinking that we agree on these points? (Follow with a brief summary.) What have we accomplished up to this point? We seem to be zeroing in toward a decision now, so should we consider what it will mean if we decide this way?

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