NOTE: The April 29 and May 13 sessions are now sold out. Register online only for the May 27 session.
OWLS presents a three-part series on leading small, task-oriented groups. This series uses scientific research to develop insight and provide tools for confident, effective small group leadership. The format will be lecture, group discussion, and some exercises. Register online here.
Friday, April 29: Small Group Leadership
- What traits and behaviors characterize “leaders”? Who tends to emerge as leaders in groups? What do leaders actually do in groups? This session reviews research on leader effectiveness and leadership styles, including the considerable literature on gender and leadership.
Friday, May 13: Group Performance
- This session considers what leaders can do to make small groups more productive and improve the quality of group outcomes. We will discuss task classification schemes, when it makes sense to use a group to accomplish a task, major causes of poor performance, and the quandaries presented by potential remedies.
Friday, May 27: Discussion Groups
- Much of our work as lawyers and community leaders involves leading discussion-focused groups. How can someone with a minority point of view get his or her point considered by a majority? How do conformity and influence affect the quality of group discussions? What does a “structured” discussion look like, and when does it make sense to have one? How do group processes create broader social inequalities?
Each session is free to OWLS members and $10.00 for non-members. You may register for all three sessions or select from among them. Attendees may pay $11.25 when registering to have lunch provided. Register online here.
Application has been made for one hour MCLE credit for each session.
About the Instructor
Jim Yocom is a transactional attorney focusing on small businesses, nonprofits, and sharing law. He received his PhD in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007, where he lectured on social psychology among other courses. As a lawyer Jim regularly teaches classes on small business liability and advises boards and other groups on legal and practical issues associated with leading organizations. Jim is on the OWLS Board of Directors and is a strong supporter of its mission to transform the practice of law and ensure justice and equality by advancing women and minorities in the legal profession.
