Keep the focus on the group . The biggest mistake that groups make is to place the blame for group problems on the leader, one member, or a subset of members. If group issues become personal issues, it is difficult to resolve them without the help of a consultant. When individuals feel attacked, counterattacks and cycles of revenge and retribution typically follow. Keep groups small .
Research suggests that groups of less than ten are more cohesive, organized, and productive.
If a large group cannot be reduced in size, design meetings to include time for subgroup discussions. For example, if there are 20 people at a meeting, create five groups of four members each. These subgroups discuss an issue for 20 minutes and report the highlights of their discussion to the entire group. Using this format ensures that everyone contributes to the discussion. Spend time planning how goals and tasks will be accomplished .