Setting the Atmosphere

Pastor Steven once said, "Atmosphere is often the last ten percent that a leader plans for, but often the first ten percent that people notice."

What a true statement!  You may have the best content in the world, but the first thing people might notice is the last ten percent of your planning.  Don't let people get distracted by your atmosphere.  Putting it simply, details matter...let's make a couple of practical examples of things to plan out for your eGroup sessions:

Home Atmosphere

Have you ever walked into a setting and things just look out of place?  Remember that you are setting up the room for guests.  You probably get accustomed to the sights and smells in your home, but guests sense them immediately. Pet odors, things children spill in odd places, heavy perfumes, the evening dinner, and even room deodorizers can distract guests.

You do not have to spend hours each week cleaning your home, but you would be surprised at how a clean and orderly room can set the eGroup up for success.  People are sensitive to their surroundings, so do your best to limit those distractions.

Lighting and Decor

How do you feel about lamps?  If you are a single man, you probably don't even notice lamps and overhead lighting. The lighting should be bright enough for everyone to read but low enough to feel cozy. If it's too dark, people will have a harder time following any sheets or handouts.  If it's too bright, people will not be able to relax as easily, and it will be harder to set the tone for discussion and transparency.

How do you feel about rugs, comfortable chairs, and throw pillows? You may feel this is unimportant, but household items like rugs, throw pillows, and lamps go a long way toward setting people at ease.  Believe me, details do matter. It's the little things that often make the difference in someone sharing.

Temperature

Use common sense on this one.  You need to understand that when people enter a room, it will warm up a little bit, so adjust accordingly.  If you notice people leaving their jacket on, it's too cold.  If people are undressing in the middle of the room, it's too hot.  Be sensitive to this piece of atmosphere.

Seating Arrangement

We recommend that you arrange the seating so each person can see every other person in the group. That being said, a circle arrangement is our recommendation. As the eGroup Leader, place your chair so that it's on the same level as the rest of those in the group - neither at the focal point nor in the background.

If your house is spacious, do not spread out.  It is best to move the chairs into a close circle, thus occupying only a portion of the room. Large rooms may be excellent for large groups, but they kill discussion in small groups. When people are spread far apart (as is the case in large houses), it's harder to openly share thoughts and feelings.

Here are some other subjects to think about:

Refreshments: Food is one of the great social activities for an eGroup.  Do you know why?  Because everyone eats, and most of the time they talk while they eat.  We don't require you to have food, but we recommend it.  The most common idea is for you to have people bring snacks and refreshments with them.  But, just like other topics, get creative with it - don't let it get stale.  Here are some examples:

• Theme night (Mexican Food, Foods that start with the letter P, Your Favorite Food Night, etc.)
• Breakfast Food Night or Favorite Cereal Night

Childcare: It's best if you can arrange for the childcare and allow the group members to share the cost of the childcare.  Childcare arrangements will draw people to your eGroup. Start Time: Simple - honor people's time and begin on time.  When you set the tone for starting on time, people will begin to arrive on time.  You set the tone for this aspect of your eGroup.

• What can you do to improve the atmosphere of your eGroup setting?  What have you overlooked in your preparation of this area?
• List out one thing that might be a distraction to the environment that you have become accustomed to; what is normal to you that might be a distraction to others in the eGroup?
• Who in the eGroup can you get feedback from in order to improve the atmosphere of the eGroup?