Create or Join a Bamboo Circle™
“None of us is as smart as all of us.” ~ Ken Blanchard
A Bamboo Circle™ is a group of people who get together to help each other on the journey to success. Wouldn’t it be great to be part of a group whose main purpose was to help each other achieve your respective visions and goals? A Bamboo Circle™ is just that – a group that meets on a regular basis who listens and brainstorms solutions and strategies, and generally supports and helps each other be accountable.
How it Works
In a Bamboo Circle™, members meet regularly (typically once a month – teams can use their staff meetings). Each member gets a “turn” at each meeting, so that everyone is supported to continually make and track his or her progress. In the initial meetings, members use their turn to share their visions or their understanding of the team’s vision and outline the goals and milestones they’ve identified toward reaching that vision. Bamboo Circle™ members ask questions, offer suggestions and brainstorm helpful tips and ideas to solidify others’ goals and plans. In subsequent meetings, all members report their progress on the goals they’ve committed to working toward. Once a milestone is reached, members commit to a new one to be presented at the next meeting.
Below are some things to think about as you form your circle and sample ground rules to define as a group. Full explanations and suggestions are available in chapter five of Water The Bamboo®: Unleashing The Potential Of Teams And Individuals, Create or Join a Bamboo Circle™.
Things to Think About
- Like each other first.
- Have the right purpose in mind.
- Participate.
- As a rule, have rules in place. Set ground rules.
- Be goal-oriented.
- Stay focused. Time is your most valuable resources – don’t waste yours!
- Be on the same page.
- Be committed to the meeting.
- Have a convener. Select someone in the group to keep everyone on task.
- Have fun.
- Know when to fold them.
Sample Ground Rules
- Start meetings on time
- End meetings on time
- Notice
- Time limits
- Confidentiality
- Order of participation
- Respect
- Leaving the group
- Terminating membership
- Adding members
