Forget the ground rules

They do more harm than good

There has yet to be a consensus, and there are, for the most part, two camps regarding whether one should start with ground rules in the training and facilitation work.

I am with Netflix on that one: No rules, rules.

Why?

-> I think they are not necessary. The things that usually end up on these lists can all be handled through facilitation hacks.

-> They are energy suckers. No matter how creative we design the process around finding them, it drains more energy than it gives.

-> They are more for the facilitator than the group. Often, their purpose is to create a safety net for the facilitator/trainer to keep control.

-> They are often foreign; the groups might already have ways of interaction. If they are not compatible with what might be on such a list, then that is precisely what needs working on in the workshop.

-> The require defining to work. More clarification is needed when things like respect end up on the list. We all experience and perceive respect differently, so there is no guarantee that this "rule" would have any effect.

I think it would be a good idea to let the group ask for it. If they do, explore why they asked for it. This might indicate that the psychological safety could be higher, and you know what to focus on.

I do have one exception, though conflict work. But more on that another time.