Issue 28(1)
First-time
leaders of small groups: How to create high-performing committees,
task forces, clubs and boards.
(2007). Manual London
& Marilyn London, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 288 pp., $45.00
(hardback). ISBN 978-0-7879-8650-6.
Review
by: Amy Urbanek
Academic
Advising Coordinator
University
College
University
of Utah
Most advisors
find that committee work is an expected part of their duties and
many find that they are asked to chair a committee at some point.
Those who have never led a group may find this a daunting task.
London & London wrote First Time Leaders of Small Groups
as a guide to help those leading for the first-time.
The
strength of this book is in the help it provides to the first
time leader who wants to get the group off to a good start. In
the first section, Preparing to Lead, the authors do an excellent
job addressing important issues to consider before the first meeting.
How large is the group? Who are the members? What expertise do
they bring? How are they likely to interact with each other? And,
perhaps most importantly, why are they there? Do committee members
want to be part of the group or were they assigned the task? The
first chapter teaches the reader how to do a thorough assessment
of the group, something often experienced leaders neglect to do,
and highlights some of the likely challenges based on the assessment
outcome.
In
section 2, Taking the Lead, the most helpful part again deals
with the beginning of the group—how to set up the structure and
culture of the group from the beginning to maximize the group’s
potential for success. Chapter 5 provides strategies to help the
new leader plan and organize the first meeting—setting the agenda,
making introductions, setting up explicit expectation and procedures—in
a way that will minimize problems down the road.
The
reader looking for a “how to” manual with detailed instructions
and activities may be disappointed. While the authors do an excellent
job helping the reader set up a group, they are short on specific
strategies for working through day-to-day activities and problems.
The examples, exercises and strategies are vague and general and,
in my opinion, the authors are too quick to suggest hiring a facilitator
whenever the discussion turns to dealing with group problems or
difficult members. They provide only a few general strategies
for these situations. Since these are two of the main challenges
of group leadership, more guidance should have been provided.
The
extensive appendixes are perhaps the most useful parts of the
book. Appendix A, A Quick Start Guide, provides a concise overview
of how to plan, prepare for, and run the first few meetings as
well as how to track the group’s progress. This section condenses
much of the important information in the book into 12 pages for
easy reference. Appendix B supplies an overview of conflict resolution
strategies, and Appendix C offers advice on giving feedback.
This book was
written for a wide audience and the information is applicable
in any group setting. I believe advisors leading a group for the
first time would find this book helpful. It could also be a useful
resource for new student leaders although younger college students
would be best served if guided through the information by an advisor.
