Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: refining concerns in a timely way

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

Whenever we have one of these discussions the focus becomes process rather
than content -- I'd like to skew it the other way. Research on teams has
revealed that the supreme determiner of team performance is not process but
competent performance of tasks.

For some people a meeting is not the best place to refine concerns. Talking
to participants individually about the issue outside of meetings often is
necessary so you come into the meeting with the concerns identified so
participants can focus on working them through. This may well include more
clarification.

I find that we spend a great deal of time in  meetings just clarifying the
issues. The focus is not on clarifying and working through concerns but
clarifying the issue!

Some people don't read preparatory materials or ask questions before they
get to the meeting. When others think the end is near, they are just waking
up to the idea that a decision needs to be made. This often happens when
most of the discussion has been done within a team. Those who do not read
that team's email, may know nothing of the issues. I read all our team's
email lists so I know what is coming, but not everyone has the stomach for
that much email.

This is also why I think groups benefit from having a "specialist"
facilitator or two who keep on top of issues and affected parties on ongoing
basis, not just stand up and facilitate meetings. Being an excellent
facilitator of meetings is not the same as helping community members
participate equally and well in an ongoing process of decision making.

Sharon
-- 
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org

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