Group Size

Group size can have a big impact on the way people can work together. In every group there will be people who will talk and contribute a fair bit, and those who do not.  This inequality of sharing and participation becomes even more marked the bigger the group – it’s an issue in any group of more than 3 or 4 people!  So balancing numbers and inclusion is an important consideration (see p17 Blue Book).  Larger groups will also increase the amount of time for the consensus process.

Develop a range of alternatives to large group discussions, for example:

• Break into smaller groups
• ‘Go rounds’ - each person in turn speaks/shares their thoughts/opinion
• Individual reflection, then share with 1/2/3/4 others or the whole group
• Brainstorm sessions.  Over 10 minutes or so everyone ‘shouts’ out key words or ideas around an issue. No discussion allowed. When the time is up then the material can be organised, group and discussed.  Sometime a great way of getting issues and ideas out on the table for discussion