Join / Form Peer Learning Group
One of the most powerful and low-cost (even free) sources of help is a peer learning group. You might join a current group or form your own group -- often, it's much easier than you think.
Members in a group are considered to be peers because each is equal in helping themselves and others to share ongoing support, feedback, materials and accountability to get things done --and learn at the same time.
Group members can meet face-to-face or by means of telecommunications (via phone, email, Web, etc.). Also, members often can schedule their own meetings and where those meetings will be held.
The format and process used by the peer group depends on the purpose of the group, whether it be for goal attainment, problem solving, training, support or networking. For example, peer groups might be discussion groups, study groups or peer coaching groups.
Often, the best groups are small in size (6-10 members), keep has the same members in each meeting, use a standard agenda, and meet for a few hours at least once a month. Someone from outside the group can be assigned to facilitate or all groups members can take responsibility for facilitating. Some groups might decide to have a different group member facilitate each meeting.
The following links are to additional resources about peer learning, including about the many benefits, where you can learn more, how to choose the best program, some organizations that provide peer learning programs, and materials from which you could form your own peer learning group.
Learn More About Peer Learning
Peer Learning Groups and Programs
Form Your Own Peer Learning Group
General Resources About Groups
Benefits of Peer Learning
What
is Peer Learning? Why is Peer Learning So Popular Today? (read
the top sections on this page) Joining
Forces -- Entrepreneurial Peer Groups
Peer
Business Advisor Groups Ease the Pressure of Ownership
Learn More About Peer Learning
Various
Forms of Peer Learning (one-page depiction)
Action
Learning and Peer Learning Programs (some theory, principles,
etc.)
Peer Learning Groups and Programs
Authenticity
Circles (peer coaching groups)
Create
a Personal Board of Directors
Creating
Your Personal Board of Directors
Form Your Own Peer Group
To form your own group, first think about the purpose or application
of the group. Usually, there are two major different kinds of
groups:
1) Those where all members learn about the same topic or skill
(training groups), for example, around a common topic in the Free
Management Library.
2) Those where members address the same problem/goal or each addresses
their own (coaching groups). For example, Tom works on strategic
planning, Susan works on time management, Jack works on career
development, etc.
In a training group, you would gather any 6-8 people who are interested in the same topic or skill. In a coaching group, you would gather 6-8 people, ideally who have similar roles or positions in their life and/or work.
To Design, Organize, Market and Facilitate Your Own Group
The Authenticity Circle Kit includes guidelines for all aspects of developing a highly effective peer program for any application. The Kit is $130 -- thus, for a group of 6-8 people, each member pays a total of about $20 for materials for every aspect of a program for any application (training, coaching, intact teams, etc.), including customizing the program, organizing and training members, facilitating high-quality meetings, and conducting highly practical evaluations.
Authenticity Circle Kit (scroll down to "Quantity Orders")
To Find People in Your Locale (for Face-to-Face Meetings)
The following link is to a free online service that helps you locate people with similar interests in your geographic area. First, you join the service (they don't share your information and use it for marketing). Then you can use the service to join or form a group of people in your area.
To Join or Form Internet/Web-Based Groups
One of the most popular online forums is the Yahoo groups. The groups are free and the Yahoo group software provides a wide range of functionality for members. There's already a vast range of established groups you can consider joining, or you can use the software to start your own group.
General Resources About Groups
The following link is to a wide variety of types of groups
and includes information aboout facilitation, as well.
Group
Skills
For the Category of Peer Learning (Facilitation and Teams):
Related Library Topics
Recommended Books
Program Planning Kit to develop
high-quality peer coaching group program
- by Carter McNamara, MBA, PHD, published by Authenticity Consulting, LCC. The program planning kit provides step-by-step guidelines to plan, market (internally or externally), facilitate and evaluate a high-quality peer coaching group program for any application our outcome. The kit includes a program planning guidebook, a facilitator's guidebook and a guidebook for members of a peer coaching group.
The following books are recommended because of their highly practical nature and often because they include a wide range of information about this Library topic. To get more information about each book, just hover your cursor over the image of the book. A "bubble" of information will be displayed. You can click on the title of the book in that bubble to get more information, too.
Also See
Strategic Planning (Facilitating) -- Recommended Books
Organizational Development (Facilitating) -- Recommended Books
