Group Leaders' Training

Welcome & Introduction

• To welcome everyone, express:
  • gratitude for their willingness to serve as leaders at the retreat
  • the experience you're hoping for them to have
  • ways you're looking forward to working together with them
  • the experience you're hoping to create together with them, for all the participants
• Describe the theme for the retreat
• Go over the schedule for the retreat
• Clarify their main responsibilities as leaders at the retreat

Heart of a Group Leader or Assistant

• In groups of 5-7 discuss:
  • What is the heart of a group leader? (Heart of a parent)
  • How can I embody the heart of a parent while being a leader?
• After groups have offered their responses, add the following points if they have not been mentioned:
  • Treat group members as your spiritual children
  • Listen without judgment
  • Be a loving center that people want to be around
  • Create opportunities to serve
  • Overcome the obstacles that people bring with them with love and understanding
  • Make it a priority to bond with your group

Building Team Connections & Unity

• In groups of 5-7 practice potential ice-breakers and team building games for leaders to do with their groups during the retreat
  • Invite leaders to teach and lead the group in some of the ice-breakers/team building games they know
  • Encourage leaders to take some written or mental notes on each ice breaker & team building game
  • If not suggested, try out the following ice-breakers/team building games:
    • For younger participants:
      • I Love Everybody Who...
      • Picnic
      • Knot Game
    • For older participants:
      • Pair Share Intro
      • Two Truths and a Lie
      • Never Have I Ever...
      • Car Horn
• Share some additional advice on building team unity
  • Work with their team to create a team name, chant, song, dance, etc.
  • Spend one-on-one time with each group member throughout the course of the retreat

Leading Discussions & Activities

Leading Discussions

• In groups of 5-7 discuss:

"What can I do to be a great discussion facilitator?"

• After groups have offered their responses add the following points if they have not been mentioned:
  • Offer thoughts and opinions last and sparingly (unless team members are having a hard time sharing their thoughts)
  • Encourage everyone to share something. Go around the circle at first. Once things get rolling, then "popcorn" works well - "Pop when you're hot": Speak up when you feel the call, but everyone gets to say something. It allows people to discuss more in depth and not feel like they're just one person in a line of discussion.
  • Be prepared to rephrase discussion questions, or create discussion questions.

Leading Activities

• In groups of 5-7 discuss:

"What can you say to and do with your group to make activities meaningful?"

Addressing Challenging Situations

Give the following advice on how to accommodate participants who are shy, quiet, extremely talkative, uninterested, disruptive, sensitive, and flirty.

• In general, address the issue privately. Take them aside during a break or meal time and let them know what is concerning you about their behavior and work together with them to come up with a solution.
• Let a participant know something you appreciate about something he or she is doing before asking him or her to change a behavior or action.

Avoid making shy or quiet people feel uncomfortable by bringing attention to the fact that they are not speaking. Instead, privately encourage them to not hesitate to share when anything comes into their mind. Let them know that you and the group appreciate hearing their thoughts.

• Let a talkative person know that you appreciate what he or she has to offer, but you want to make sure everyone that would like to, gets a chance to speak. Can do this during a discussion if necessary.

Taking Care of New People

Give the following advice on how to take care of new people and help them feel welcome:

• Spend one-on-one time with new participants on the first day
• Ask veteran participants to reach out to new participants and help them feel included and welcomed
• Frequently check on how things are going for the new participants
• Do your best to make them feel part of the group beyond group discussions
• Be sure to invite them to join the group during mealtimes, or idle chitchat
• Give them a special minor job or role within the group
• Engage them in conversation about their hobbies and interests