Groups work well for many reasons. Project Renewment groups members have identified the follow characteristics as key to a successful group.
Authenticity: Being true to ourselves, saying what we think, beleive and feel about issues.
Commitment: Participants attend all meetings unless they have an unavoidable conflict.
Communication: Sppeaking, listening, understanding, processing and responding with clarity.
Confidentiality: Group meetings are a place where members can feel safe to be themselves and share information.
Consistency: Meetings are scheduled on a regular basis, preferably once a month on a designated day.
Growth: Groups focus on growth rather than psychotherapy.
Honesty: On an intellectual and feeling level, honesty makes the group more sensitive, aware, creative and provocative.
Ownership: Each members is the owner of the group and takes responsibility for making the group work.
Participation: All group members take part in the discussion and no one takes th role of an observer.
Personality: Each group looks to its own personality to estabalish a successful process.
Preparation: Members decide on topics prior to each meeting.
Relevancy: Topics focus on issues most important to participants at this time of their lives.
Respect A genuine respect for what others experience, think, believe and envision make group discussions even richer.
Responsibility: Each participant takes responsibility for the tasks, success and maintenance of the group.