unstuck groups

Unstuck Groups is a free, community-led movement designed to facilitate constructive problem-solving and mutual support among individuals facing personal or professional challenges. 

 

Rooted in a foundation of trust, the organizer of any group acts as a bridge, inviting four individuals who share a connection with them, even though the invitees may be strangers to each other. 

 

This common link fosters a foundation of trust and comfort, laying the groundwork for open and honest conversations. 

 

In a virtual (or in-person) 60-90-minute meeting, each participant takes turns presenting a specific problem, challenge, or "block" they're encountering in their life—something that is making them feel “stuck." 

 

The focus is on sharing experiences rather than offering opinions or discussing divisive topics. 

 

The listeners actively engage by lending their ears, free from interruptions.

 

Once a person shares their “stuckness," the group shifts into a supportive mode where others have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions, offer potential solutions, or share personal reflections.

 

This process encourages diverse perspectives and enables participants to tap into collective wisdom. 

 

By adhering to guidelines that emphasize active listening, personal experiences, and respectful communication, Unstuck Groups create an environment where individuals can freely express themselves and receive valuable feedback. The aim is not to impose solutions, but to foster a sense of camaraderie and shared growth. 

 

This loosely structured approach to “peer-to-peer” support ensures that participants leave the session with fresh insights, renewed motivation, and a deeper sense of connection with both themselves and the new people they have met from the group.

 

Suggested Format
 

• Organizer welcomes everyone to the group, emphasizes the community guidelines, and establishes that they will be the last to share in the event that time runs out. 

 

• Organizer should express to participants that while they do not know each other, they all know the organizer. 

 

The organizer trusts and respects each individual in the group, and reinforces that this is a safe space where anything can be shared without worry of it being discussed outside of this specific gathering (5 minutes total)

 

- Each Participant, following the organizer’s introduction, the organizer, has two minutes to introduce themselves (6 minutes total)

 

- Organizer asks the group if there is anyone with a pressing issue, or who would like to volunteer to share first

 

- Each person has 6 minutes to share their challenge/problem/stuckness without interruption

 

- Following a share, there is a 5 minute period for participants to ask questions, make suggestions, and seek clarity with regard to the pain point presented by the person who just shared

 

- After the 5 minute feedback period, the floor is yielded to the next person who is going to share. This is a reset and all previous conversation should be left to rest

 

- This process continues until all participants have shared. If there is not enough time for the organizer to share, that’s ok. Stay on schedule and respect the end-time of the meeting

 

Community Guidelines

 

Moderator/Facilitator: Designate a moderator or facilitator to guide the conversation, ensure everyone adheres to the guidelines, and intervene if needed.

 

Confidentiality: Organizers should emphasize the importance of maintaining confidentiality. What's shared in the conversation should stay within the group to establish a safe space of trust and encourage open sharing.

 

Respectful Listening: Encourage active listening without interruptions. Participants should allow each person to express their feelings and thoughts without being talked over.

 

Personal Sharing: Focus on sharing personal experiences and feelings rather than discussing political or religious topics. This helps keep the conversation centered on emotions rather than divisive subjects.

 

No Opinions: Remind participants that the goal is to share feelings, not to provide advice or opinions. This prevents the conversation from turning into a debate.

 

No Projecting Emotions: Discourage participants from projecting their own emotions onto others. Each person should be responsible for expressing their own feelings, not attributing emotions to others.

 

Speak for Yourself: Encourage the use of "I" statements to express feelings. This helps participants take ownership of their emotions and prevents assumptions about others' emotions.

 

One Speaker at a Time: Ensure that only one person speaks at a time to maintain a clear and focused conversation. This prevents chaos and encourages respectful turn-taking.

 

Validation and Empathy: Stress the importance of validating and empathizing with each other's feelings. Participants should aim to create a supportive and understanding atmosphere.

 

No Judgment: Reinforce the guideline of non-judgment. All feelings and experiences are valid, and participants should avoid passing judgment on each other.

 

Stay On Topic: Remind participants to stay on the topic of emotions and personal experiences. This prevents the conversation from drifting into unrelated areas.

 

Reflective Silence: Allow moments of reflective silence after each person speaks. This gives participants time to absorb what's been shared before responding.

 

Graceful Exits: Let participants know that they can leave the conversation at any time if they feel uncomfortable, triggered, or overwhelmed.

 

Open-Mindedness: Encourage an open-minded approach, where participants are willing to learn from others' experiences and feelings.

 

Feedback and Adaptation: After the conversation, gather feedback from participants to assess how well the session went, how they felt both before and after the conversation, and consider applying constructive feedback to future sessions.