CHANGING GROUP NORMS: Next to Impossible

Group norms exist in relations between group members and are enacted in everyday interactions.

Changing existing norms is hard if you are at the top; it is (next to) impossible if you are at the bottom of the hierarchy and haven’t built a coalition of like-minded and able people. The challenge must be apparent from the start to avoid disappointment if change happens slowly or does not happen at all. If you want to change norms, follow these steps.

First, you observe and identify norms you think should be changed. It helps to calibrate your perception with your trusted peers—if they see the same problems. {CALIBRATE YOUR PERCEPTION}

Second, you analyze the issues and try to understand what causes them.

Third, you hypothesize what you need to do and prepare the ECPM for it, i.e., the endpoint, the success criteria, what parameters are critical, and what you will measure. {ECPM}

Fourth, you plan how to change the norms.

Fifth, be consistent with changes when changing: it is better to change a little but not let that change return to the early state in a boa constrictor way. {DAILY INCREMENTS}

Ground rules can serve as a trellis for emerging group norms: establishing ground rules is essential in any group endeavor.

{GROUPS: A PARAMEDIC APPROACH, GROUND RULES, WEED-OUT, THE DICHOTOMY, GROUP GOAL MIX, COALITION}