Group Support Team Request for Feedback- Hosting Quality
Hello everyone! I’m Paws and I am your Group Support Quality Mentor. My goal is to improve hosting quality in member group support rooms. My goal is to support discussion hosts and help create consistent quality across all teams. I would love to hear your ideas about our current hosting experiences.
What is going well, in terms of discussions, on your team and/or in member group discussions you participate in regularly?
What areas do you feel need improvement and what would you suggest for improvements?
What do you think are best practices for discussion hosts?
Team Leaders, if you have new group supporters on your team, would you please tag them? It’s possible I may not have the names of our newest group support team members. Thank you!
@LuLuRings, @AnastasiaSmith, @RiverHudson1, @compassionateTree4567, @mykenziemarie03, @aeris156, @bouncyVoice4149, @temporalVoid, @listeningsarinn, @sisterdj, @KaylaDances, @Dofly, @SummerBreeze00, @JoyfulUnicorn, @comfortableEyes5, @LightDragon, @MoonlightPrimrose, @pamharley003, @BleuPhoenix, @endearinghand5634, @avagracii, @RebekahRoyal, @Theheartproject, @AYellowCloset, @amberbird, @smolecho, @TheAtticusFinch, @Klemen, @DayDreamWithYou, @SuryanshSingh, @smilingsnapples, @Clara139175,@fantasticWatermelon83, @ashlyntheordinary, @greatfulRainfall46, @Magicallykermit58, @spectacularSunrise7824, @KristinHelps, @Asruu, @lyricalPillow74, @blitheEmbrace27, @safeshoulder2CryOn, @cocoakrispies121, @StarlitSky4762,, @goldenflower74, @Mankka, @VerseArt, @AnnaTess, @BlissHope, @SupportiveMitch, @queenviebsonly, @sotdspec1, @msteacups, @generousBreeze169, @audienta, @crystalQueen, @MarissaHope, @Youhavehope123, @potatoxcrispztrish, @hopedreamlove, @curiositycrayon, @playfulPalm95, @softmusic9759, @MyNameIsNicole, @SophieWX, @optimisticMagic0014, @CalmTurtle72, @DreamTouch, @JaimieF, @Itisbailey, @IvyL, @Jem7cups, @littlePapaya2167, @CheeryMango, @Hppinessstar, @MichaelStarets, @rhlvrma94, @shiningDay90, @JoyIntoDarkness, @Kachidim, @Fireskye13, @SoulfullyAButterfly, @Kassy7cups, @rachsxo, @enchantedlove, @SofiaT2000, @Jiminycricket91, @CompassionateDreamer8522, @KatLis123, @emily2803, @shr29, @Joe33, @Yourstruly2000, @shiningSound31, @Siripiri, @Affliction1, @CercaTrova99, @Sher217, @Tyedyedbutterfly65, @Hopieremi, @brilliantTurtle89, @Evelynerose, @AlwaysEli, @rebecca947, @SevenSolstice, @WeedyGarden, @GentleSun78, @soulsings, @BlindGrapefruit, @GentleFlameofCaring, @amiablePeace77, @caringpanda45, @Mimi, @IvyL, @DayDreamWithYou, @SuryanshSingh, @JennMarie2, @24Help1, @rachsxo, @smolecho, @crystalclearnow, @Jenna, @GrahZeymahzin, @VickyP, @Isha, @vivelespatates, @competentParadise6344, @tranquilbear14
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I'm really excited about this work you're doing!
What is going well, in terms of discussions, on your team and/or in member group discussions you participate in regularly?
In terms of Family & Caregivers, we're doing really great with having consistent and reliable weekly discussions that vary between guided and open chat structures. Regular and reliable discussions are great to see around the community and keep the group rooms active. In our discussions and other discussions around the site that I attend from time to time, I like the participation and how engaged participants, both members and listeners, may get at times. I also like when topics are tailored towards events or holidays that are going on around the same time; this keeps things relevant and changing, which is great. It's also nice that I see listeners from other teams around the site coming and supporting teams they're not members of by attending discussions and being encouraging.
What areas do you feel need improvement and what would you suggest for improvements?
I think one place I could see improvement is host training. When I first started out as an RS and hosted my first discussion, I was just given access to scripts and told to host, so I didn't know exactly what that meant or how to go about it or even what scripts to do. If we were able to have a training guide or maybe training discussions from time to time that would give guidance on how to host, that could be super helpful. I, along with I'm sure many others, had to learn as I went, and having someone who you the ropes can be helpful and needed.
With that, maybe sending out a survey to discussion hosts to ask for their favorite tips and tricks for hosting could be good to compile to put together in a guide? Training sessions could allow for times to discuss tips and tricks with our more-seasoned discussion hosts, as well as maybe some "practice" or "mock" discussoin hosting where maybe we have closed discussions where newer hosts can try to co-host with a seasoned host and host a practice discussion for other group support leaders to get feedback and build confidence before hosting in the member rooms for the open community.
What do you think are best practices for discussion hosts?
I think some best practices for hosts would be to be present and active. Lulls in the room or stepping out for periods of time can be off-putting, so being active and around to try to encourage more interaction in the room is always good. If members are answering questions, it's great to comment on what they're saying and give feedback or agree or whatever else. If someone says blue is their favorite color, compliment that and maybe share yours, for instance. It makes you more personable and approachable, rather than someone just listing off questions and being in the room to only moderate. Active listening comes into play even in discussions where you can make use of reflection, validation, empathy, and open-ended questions to interact with and relate better with the participants in your discussions, especially if people are sharing more personal anecdotes or opinions/feelings/thoughts.
I think too, with scripted discussion, being able to gauge the room and be able to "add your own flavor" in a sense would be a good practice. It's alright to come up with follow-up questions on the spot and let participants tailor discusions in a way. Stay on topic, of course, but if you have a group wanting to go one way or spend longer on a topic in a discussion, I see nothing wrong it, and it makes participants more apt to participate and want to return if their needs/wants are being met.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
Hey Paws
I'd like to comment as a participant of discussion sessions that I've attended from various Community Groups and also as someone who is interested in learning, from others, how to become a good Host.
What's going well?
From the discussions that I've participated in, I have to say that I have always felt welcomed and included by the Host and / or Co Host. I've been impressed with leaders ability to gently guide the flow of the room to include all who are participating and yet also to keep attention focused on the topic on hand. While each Host / Co Host has their own 'style' for leading, I must say that it has been a pleasure to observe and learn from each one of them!
A quick note regarding the topic questions asked during discussions: I appreciate the way questions are phrased. The questions allow participants to feel comfortable sharing differences in opinions while avoiding 'arguments' over these differences. They are inclusive.
Suggestions for improvements?
(This may already be in place across Sub Communities, if so please disregard, but I've seen it used in Member Sharing Circle and Small Steps to Healthy Habits)
I think it would be helpful to add into the scripts a sentence to direct new people joining in the middle of the session. For example:
"Welcome to those joining the guided Discussion today! Our Topic for Today is: (Enter subject being discussed). "
Perhaps this would help reduce confusion in the room for people who pop in (unaware that it is a dicussion not a general chat like MCR) and send messages like "I had a fight with my parents and I need advice from you all on what I should do"
These are just some of my thoughts that I wanted to offer. Thank you for creating this post and seeking to improve quality!!
@Sher217 I like the idea of including the topic in the welcoming statement to those entering mid-discussion! The banner doesn't show up on the app, so people may enter the room without being aware a discussion is happening, so that could be super helpful for those folks.
@PeaceLoveandPaws
I've attended couple discussions but most seem either takeing place a bit early for me or don't seem announced well. Idk what how, but I think there should be another better way to notify people.
@Fireskye13 So maybe working on ways to notify the community better of the discussions would be a good suggestion! And I think too ensuring that discussions that appear on the calendar occur, as sometimes sessions are scheduled and don't happen, which can be confusing.
@Fireskye13
This is a link to the Community Calendar which lists all the discussions HERE
I hope this helps.
@BlindGrapefruit
Thx so much.
Tagging @Asilentobserver
