A leader needs to be
Collected
Confident
Prepared
Able to Communicate
1. THING I CAN DO
BEFORE A GROUP STARTS.
- State the rules and the
punishments
before the group starts.
- Plan staggered levels of
punishment,
to increase with the level of bad behaviour.
2. THINGS I SHOULD BE
BEFORE A GROUP
STARTS.
- Planned and have a clear
direction.
- Know your target audience.
- Feel alright about my self.
- Know why you are leading.
3. THINGS I SHOULD DO
DURING THE GROUP.
- Stop wrong behaviour in the bud
before
it gets out of hand.
- Show no favouritism and be
impartial.
- Be confident.
- Give clear directions
4. THINGS I SHOULD BE
DURING THE GROUP.
- Honest and not use the position
of leader
to get my own way.
- Not bend any of the rules that I
expect
the members to obey.
- Be fair and just in running the
program
- Be interested in the group.
- Not boring
- Clear in giving directions
- Involved in the program rather
than
sitting back and just watching.
5. WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.
Look for possible causes that may
happen
outside the group.
- Poor home life.
- Personality.
- Rebellious.
- Low concentration.
- Low learning skills or
comprehension
skills.
- Talkative
Possible causes relating
to the group or
the leaders
- Personality clash
- Boring or poorly run program.
- Poorly planned and prepared
- Program not relevant
- Clichés
PRACTICAL WAYS TO
HELP OVERCOME DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS
- Let the parents be informed and involved
- Have written rules
- Use handouts or resource books during the talk or small group
time.
- When you are speaking start loud then start to speak softer.
- When you are speaking start slow then slowly start speaking
faster.
- Use some of the leaders as trouble shooters, who can
take people aside and talk to them about their behaviour.
SITUATIONS (Discussion Questions)
1. Someone arrives drunk or stoned.
2. A fight between two members.
3. People running in and out of the group
4. Will not participate in the program
5. Talking during the talk
6. Back chatting to the leaders
7. Calling leaders names
8. Hitting people.
9. Playing the games too hard.
10. Cheating.
11. Swearing
12. Leaving the group without permission
13. Playing off leaders against each other
HOW
TO CONTROL LARGE GROUPS
Adequate control generally involves the leader
"connecting" with
the members. This is achieved when the members respect the leader and
realize
that they have something worth listening to. Below are some guidelines
to achieve this.
1. IF THE LEADER IS COMPOSED THEN THE MEMBERS WILL
BE CONFIDENT
A. Don't be negative about the members and putting them down.
B. Don't dress to try to be the latest fashion, sincerity counts
more than clothing for peoples credibility.
C. If the group is noisy start speaking loudly and slowly, as
this creates a calm atmosphere and gets peoples attention. Then
start
to speaker faster and softer once you have got their attention.
If
you speak too fast, it may make the group excitable.
D. Give clear instructions that are easily understood, before
the activity is undertaken by a group. e.g.. explain a game whilst
everyone
is seated, then run it.
E. At the beginning of the year start formal and relax the programme
as a reward.
2. IF THE LEADER IS REASONABLE THEN THE KIDS WILL
RESPOND
A. Most youth like definite guidelines for
discipline and what
is acceptable.
B. Do not ask the group for ideas of what you can do next
or if they will like the next activity, because only might will
prevail
rather than truth. Secondly, it means you come across as
unprepared.
Thirdly, by the time someone has explained a game idea (normally
explained
poorly) you would have lost the other members interest. It is better to
just say " this is what we will do next."
C. Do not try one-upmanship with the members because someone
will always lose. It is not a competition of whom is best
or
who is the boss.
D. In discipline always be fair and just.
3. IF THE LEADER IS PREPARED THEN THE MEMBERS WILL
BE PRESENT
A. Always start on time or people will see that it is okay to
be late.
B. Be interesting and know where the program is heading.
C. Give advanced notice of things so that the members will be
prepared.
4. IF THE LEADER IS CREDIBLE THEN THE MEMBERS WILL
BE CONTROLLED
A. Do not try to be something that you are not to
please an audience.
Sincerity counts more than hype.
B. Be aware that most talks are affirming known
information,
therefore give information a practical usable framework rather than
just
abstract guidelines.
5. CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION CAN BEST BE ACHIEVED BY
A. Using variety in the program, e.g..
audiovisuals, drama,
sheets, songs etc.
B. Let the talks be of a nature that directly relates to the
members.
C. Have a clear goal about what you are trying to say.
D. All leaders need to participate in the program not just the
one running the program.
HOW TO CONTROL SMALL
GROUPS
THINGS I CAN DO BEFORE THE GROUP STARTS
1. Seating. Make sure the seating is comfortable, that
everyone can
be seen and preferably the same height. (Not sitting, lying down,
standing etc.)
2. Move any potential noisy members apart before you start.
3. Start the group once silence and good behaviour has
been achieved. This will set the tone of the group and allows orderly
conversation.
5. Plan beforehand the material that you are to cover.
6. Be prepared for the group and know what your aim is for the
group.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
1. Stop noise or out of turn speaking in
the bud. If people
cannot answer normally then go around the circle for answers or answer
after raising their hand.
2. Don't start side conversations with just
a sub set of
members as this may lead others to do the same. People will rarely wait
for this conversation to finish and may try to speak over the top. If a
conversation is important then arrange to leave it till later.
Don't let one person dominate even if they have
the right answers.
Suggest that other opinions may be interesting to hear.
3. QUIET GROUPS.
This may be caused by the group being
- quiet or shy personalities
- very polite
- nervous if a stranger is present
- don't understand the questions
- want to the group to finish as quick as possible
- threatening questions
You need to determine the cause and then take action.
1. Don't tell someone that they are dumb or
that they have
to share.
2. As a leader you need to gain their respect by how
you act
not just because you are a leader.
