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Some Needs of People in Groups

Some Needs of People in Groups

(For Leaders and Officers to Keep in Mind)

If you want my loyalty, interest and best efforts as a group member, you must take into account the fact that:

  1. I need a sense of belonging:
    • A feeling that no one objects to my presence.
    • A feeling that I am sincerely welcome.
    • A feeling that I am honestly needed for myself, not just for my hands, my money or to make the group larger.
  2. I need to have a share in planning the group goals. (My need will be satisfied only when I feel that my ideas have had a fair hearing.)
  3. I need to feel that the goals are within reach and they make sense to me.
  4. I need to feel that what I am doing contributes to something important to human welfare - that its value extends beyond the group itself.
  5. I need to share in making the rules of the group - the rules by which together we shall live and work toward our goals.
  6. I need to know in some clear detail just what is expected of me so I can work confidently.
  7. I need to have responsibilities that challenge, that are within the range of my abilities and that contribute toward reaching my other personal goals.
  8. I need to see that progress is being made toward the goal that we have set and that I am making progress toward my other personal goals.
  9. I need to have confidence in our leaders and officers - confidence based upon assurance of consistent, fair treatment, recognition when it is due and appreciation for steady, consistent, contributing membership.

In brief, the situations in which I may find myself as a member must make sense to me regardless of how much sense it makes to the leader.