A Poor Substitute

Discussion

Darryl's Dilemma

Help Darryl decide how to balance the needs of his group against the needs of a poor discussion leader.

Topics:	Delegating, Problems, Teacher, Teaching
Filters:	Group Leader, Lead
Purpose:	Discipleship
Date Added:	August 31, 2009

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Total Reader Responses: 1 (see below)

Darryl likes to rotate discussion leaders in his small group. Each semester he asks a different group member to lead the teaching/discussion time for several weeks so that the group can benefit from different perspectives and methods, and so that he can identify potential group leaders for the future.

This practice had gone well for Darryl for several years—until Randy asked to take a turn at the helm. Randy has a lot of great qualities. He's hardworking and honest and smart. But Randy is a terrible discussion leader. He monopolizes the group's teaching time with long lectures and is inflexible when someone questions his opinions. When he does engage the group in discussion, he calls on different people at random and asks for their answers whether they are ready to speak or not. Even worse, Randy has started assigning a lot of homework for the group and becomes upset when the other members don't spend as much time as he would like filling it out.

All of this has been happening for four weeks, but Randy is still scheduled to lead the group discussions for another four weeks before someone else takes over. What should Darryl do? How can he balance the needs of the one versus the needs of the many?

Posted: September 02, 2009

Leeza Glisson (Registered User)

If Darryl has 4 more weeks to go then you will have to talk with him about some basic principles of leading a small group. Gently guide him to some more effective methods of leading discussions. He seems to be taking on a teaching role as compared to a facilitator or discussion leader. Discuss the differences with him and clarify the direction you want him to take with the group. In the future, limit any individual's time in leadership until they have shown good potential rather than to identifying potential. Progress to longer and more responsible positions over time.