1 Scene 1. The First Meeting
Linor David
In this scene the group members are getting to know each other.
SOHA: Really? Do we need to meet outside the washroom? Why can’t we just find a place to sit?
MICHAEL: What? Who cares? We need to make it snappy anyways, there’s 10 minutes until the caf closes and I’m starving. Got to get me some Pizza Pizza! Let’s go!
SOHA: But we are supposed to get to know each other and start organizing.
MICHAEL: I know the name of everyone here. Except you (he points at Tracey). Yo. What’s your name again?
TRACEY: Me?
MICHAEL: Yeah, you.
TRACEY: It’s Tracey
MICHAEL: Ok cool. Introductions are done.
TRACEY: Well, also…
ELAINE: Could we…
MICHAEL: What?
SOHA: Did you not notice the rest of us might not know each other?
MICHAEL: Well, get to know each other then! I don’t want to have to go all the way across the street to the store for food. Here- put your names and numbers into my phone and I’ll make a Whatsapp group. We’ll organize with that and meet up in person a few times before class to finish the project.
CAS: That’s sounds good to me. I took this course before and we needed to build something for our project. So we definitely need to meet in person a few times.
MICHAEL: Cool- everyone we should listen to her, she’s done this class before.
CAS: Uhhh
TRACEY: So, how many times do you think we’ll need to meet?
CAS: Well…
ELAINE: We could meet before class starts. I don’t have a class before this one.
TRACEY: Hmm, that might be a problem.
CAS: Also, I wanted to say…
MICHAEL: What??? I’m starving!!!
SOHA: Wait!Tracey? Cas?
Instructions
Continue the scene by having Cas and Tracey share what they are thinking. Improvise having all the group members introduce themselves, and say a couple of things about themselves that impact how they will be part of the group
Key Takeaways
- When a group meets for the first time it is important for the members to spend time getting to know each other. Learning about each individual in the group is not a waste of time that could be used toward completing a project. Learning about each person is a necessary step toward developing a functioning group dynamic. Learning about each person builds the trust necessary to complete tasks.
- Power dynamics exist within a group. In a functioning group, members exert influence over each other- sharing their thoughts and ideas about the task at hand. Power and privilege are some of the elements that can keep people from sharing freely with a group or from feeling safe enough to express themselves. Different personality styles also determine how much influence a person will exert.
- In this scene Michael assumes he knows Cas’s gender and refers to them as “she”. You can’t assume a person’s gender from their appearance. Asking and respecting people’s pronouns of choice is key to group members feel seen and heard. It is a burden to place on someone to have to correct other group members’ pronoun use. Get into the habit of doing introductions that include pronouns when you first get to know a group.
Discussion
- In this scene, how do varying personalities or identities influence who takes control of the group?
- Who do you relate to in this scene? When have you exerted influence in a group and when have you not?
- How could have spending time to get know each other help this group?
