1). Why use a consultant or an observer for a small group?
You should use a consultant or an observer for a small group when it is appropriate. There is no best time to use one, the reason why small groups use them is because consultants and observers are not directly involved with the group work but rather are there to provide insight. They also can help the group develop by offering evaluations of the growth and development that they see.
For example I mentioned that I coach baseball however I am only 3 years into coaching I only have my knowledge of the game, clinics that I have attended and my own personal experience of the game. However when I decided to coach softball it is different sport. Since I was only coaching seven to eight year olds I was able to incorporate some of the methods from baseball into my coaching. As time went on I knew I had to make the switch from baseball to softball. So I went with my uncle Joe who has over 20 years of expericence. I consulted with him on certain techniques, how to run a practice, and how to make the game fun for him. I would ask him to come and watch me coordinate my practice and later he gave me some tips on what I could do better and what he saw as my strengths when teaching the game of softball.
Hi Mike! I really enjoyed reading your post on the outside observer. Like many of our classmates' posts, we already have the general idea of how the observer works. To sum it up, we need an outside prospective to look into a group in order to point out certain flaws and attributes that can be either fixed or praised. It's always best to have that outside opinion rather trying to get it within your own personal group. The thing I liked most about yoru post was your example of your coaching experience. You made a good point that you needed additional help/mentoring for coaching, so you went to your Uncle Joe who played the role as the outside observer. That was a great example to use as you (the group) voluntarily called for the observer (Uncle Joe) to help you out in this situation. This was a great way to put it because it symbolizes the affects observers have on any individual or group of people. I thought that was a very interesting way of explaining it. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteYou made a very good point about how you needed to have an outside consultant (your uncle) in order to help you become a better coach in a sport in which you didn’t have much experience. This makes me wonder if being familiar with the specific function of a group or with the tasks of the group would make a person a more effective or a less effective consultant. I’m guessing less effective. Without familiarity, a consultant could still help a group find ways to improve the group’s future success by helping the group work on the processes involved in becoming an effective group. With familiarity; however, a consultant might become too involved in the function or tasks of the group and become more of a participant observer rather than an outside observer. If this happens, then the outside consultant is no longer a dispassionate observer who can make excellent insights, but a member of the group who tends to have trouble concentrating on both the group’s work and evaluation of the group.
ReplyDeleteHey Mike,
ReplyDeleteAs a coach myself, I really enjoyed reading your post. I think your experience as a coach was a perfect example of the impact that a consultant can have on individuals in a group. It can be very difficult to recognize our own mistakes or shortcomings, so that's why it is so helpful to have an consultant observe from an outside perspective and give meaningful insight to help with individual/group development. I think it is also important that you mentioned the fact that your Uncle gave you positive feedback about your strengths as well as helping you develop your weaknesses. It is important for an observer to be able to recognize not only the weaknesses, but also your strengths because staying positive will help create a relationship and an atmosphere that facilitates learning and improvement.