Leadership Skills

Question 1

active listening

Answer 1

• entails listening to the content, voice, and body language of the person speaking (communicating that you are really listening)
• try to listen to all the members at the same time
• -> be aware of what members are feeling and thinking even when they are not speaking
• scan the room for non-verbal gestures (facial expressions body shifts)

Question 2

tone setting

Answer 2

= creating the mood for the group

• serious vs. light, somewhere in between?
• confronting vs. supportive?
• formal vs. informal?
• task-oriented vs. relaxed?
• -> be aware of the environment (lighting, seating, decoration)

Question 3

multicultural understanding

Answer 3

• awareness of multicultural issues is very important
• -> diversity positive
• needs to understand the different cultures + how each member’s culture effects participation in the group

Question 4

identifying allies

Answer 4

• identify allies for sessions when you will want someone to start a discussion etc.
• -> transition stage

Question 5

linking

Answer 5

= process of connecting people together to facilitate bonding

• valuable skills, especially in the beginning of groups
• -> leader wants the members to feel connected to each other/to the group
• pointing out commonalities, facilitates building cohesion
• be alert how things one person says applies to another person
• via exercises (dyads/triads)

Question 6

clarification

Answer 6

• may be done to the benefit of the entire group or of the speaker’s benefit (help the member become more aware of what he is trying to say)
• techniques:
  1. questioning
  2. restating
  3. using other members to clarify
• maintain clear communication in the group

Question 7

mini-lecturing and information-giving

Answer 7

• interesting
• relevant
• consider cultural/gender differences
• short (5-8 minutes)
• energising
• have current, correct, and objective information

Question 8

use of eyes

Answer 8

• eyes can gather valuable info, encourage members to speak, deter members from speaking
  1) scanning for nonverbal cues (head nods, expressions)
  2) getting members to look at each other
  3) drawing out members (invitation to talk)
  4) cutting off members (too talkative)

Question 9

use of voice

Answer 9

1) help set the tone: strong, stern voice might intimidate members; warm, encouraging helps scared members
2) energise the group: enthusiastic voice will affect members in positive way (as long as sincere)
3) pacing the group: slo-walking will influence to slow down

Question 10

use of the leader’s energy

Answer 10

• enthusiasm for what they are doing

Question 11

reflection

Answer 11

• restate the comment, conveying that you understand the content and the feeling behind it
• purpose:
  1. help the speaker to be more aware of what he is saying
  2. communicate to him that you are aware of how he is feeling
• can be with individuals, subgroups, who group

Question 12

modelling and self-disclosure

Answer 12

= one of the best ways to teach desired behaviours is by modelling those behaviours in the group

• your effective communication, ability to listen, encouragement… can serve as model for others
• personal sharing can show that you are willing to risk and share yourself (indicate your humanness and that mistakes are normal)
• -> transition stage (modelling helpful in resolving conflicts, building trust)

Question 13

encouraging and supporting

Answer 13

• especially important in helping members deal with anxiety of a new situation + sharing their ideas or personal feelings
• must take initiative
• encouragement must be genuine and congruent with your actual feelings

Question 14

summarising

Answer 14

• members often do not remember many of the details as they are busy listening
• helpful when you have allowed a member to speak uninterrupted for several minutes
• tighten the focus, allows the leader to stay with the issue/move on
• make transition from one topic to another
• important if discussion has involved overlapping ideas
• pull together major point