Principles and Ground Rules

Ground rules define how the meeting will be run and are agreed by the participants of the consultative group. These rules describe the rights and responsibilities of the participants. Some examples of ground rules are given below.

1.    Begin the meeting with brief inspirational reading to create a positive climate.
2.    Await acknowledgement from the chairman before speaking. Some groups raise hands, or follow an agreed order; others use less formal methods.
3.    Exercise complete freedom of expression and opinions, moderated by the need to be concise, allowing time for everyone to participate and the creative interchange of ideas.  
4.    Support a balance between process and efficiency. All must support the time planning, and the need to make and implement decisions.
5.    Don’t interrupt when another person is speaking. Respect each participant and appreciate the diversity each brings, whether in thought, temperament or character.
6.    Take responsibility for creating a friendly and uplifting atmosphere. Speak with courtesy, dignity, care, and moderation to promote unity and openness.
7.    Stay on the subject. Focus attention to the task at hand. Extraneous conversation will slow down the process and finding of solutions.
8.    Align purpose with the group’s purpose.
9.    Value and consider all contributions and contributors; belittle none. Evaluation should be withheld until sufficient information has been obtained.
10.    Consider, with insight and wisdom, the views of others. If a valid point has been offered, accept it.
11.    Expect the truth to emerge through the clash of differing opinions. The best solutions come from a willingness to forge ideas against one another.
12.    Let go of opinions once stated—ideas become the property of the group. Ownership of ideas causes disharmony among members of the team and often hinder full exploration.
13.    Strive for consensus. It is the goal and achieving it should be the aim of everyone. If, however, consensus cannot be reached, then observe majority rule and support the decision even if you opposed it. Decisions once made become the decision of every participant—dissenting opinions after decisions are made are destructive and compromise success. If a decision is faulty, the unity of pursuit will uncover the mistake and the group can find an alternative path quickly and maintain unity of action and purpose.