Making Space for Introverts & Extroverts

God made introverts and extroverts and we need each other! Your group will probably have a pretty even mix. In-person groups are challenged to honor both, but online platforms seem to draw out extroverts and allow introverts to recede. Keep this from happening with a few guidelines.

1. Up Front
   Explain at the start of the group that since the group platforms allow only one person to speak at a time you will facilitate the conversation in a manner more structured than a typical small group that meets in a living room.

2. Facilitate
   Ask specific questions of specific people. If you start with the introvert, then open it up to everyone else the extroverts will take their turn.

3. Batter Up
   If you have many questions to work through, consider creating an order like a batting line up in baseball and work through the lineup.

4. Flag
   Ask members to raise their hands to flag (yes, you can even do this online) and call on specific people. You can still call on your introverts – even if they don’t raise their hands.

5. Edit
   Cut short the “rabbit trails.” Off-topic observations are a favorite pastime of many extroverts so halting them politely and quickly will help keep extroverts from dominating.

6. Look
   Take note of who is not sharing and invite them into the conversation.

7. Draw Out
   Be an assertive leader without dominating yourself. Avoid monologues and lectures and think of yourself as a facilitator of dialogue that gets better the more people are involved.

How to Avoid Doing Everything As An Online Group Leader

It seems counter-intuitive, but an online group requires even more care or the community will fizzle. However, the solution is not for you to do more but for you to recruit members of your group to step up into a role within the group. But make sure the job is simple, meaningful, and makes a positive impact on the group. Otherwise, it’s a waste of time and the volunteer will be frustrated.

1. Schedule a Moderator
   Let’s face it, some people really, really love managing a calendar. If that’s you, great. If that’s NOT you, then give that job away!

2. Chat Moderator

   Most platforms have some chat feature; however, it can be hard to keep tabs on the written interaction and the verbal interaction and facilitate the discussion. If your group uses chat, then appoint a moderator to interact with the written interaction and occasionally bring some of that chat into the verbal interaction.

3. Prayer Coordinator

   Ask a group member to write down the prayer requests shared during the meeting and email them after the group meeting is over. For extra credit, the prayer coordinator can follow up during the week with prayer requests.

4. Encourager-In-Chief

   Is there a member of your group with a cheerful, exuberant personality? Recruit them to encourage fellow group members throughout the week via text, social media, or phone calls and email.

5. Social Coordinator

   While some online groups may never meet in person, and during times of crisis it may not be possible, most online groups grow stronger if they are able to meet in person. If that works for your group, appoint a coordinator who will plan and organize socials.