“One way to get men to be honest is to model it. Be honest yourself. Be honest about the things you struggle with, as well as some of your victories. This will inspire others to follow suit.” – Vince Miller
I used to think that the biggest hurdle that challenged most men’s group leaders was simply finding enough guys eager to show up regularly on the night of the study. But after leading a men’s group for a few years now, I’ve shifted my thinking on that a little. And not that getting guys to regularly show up each week isn’t challenging. It is. It’s a huge challenge!
But the bigger hurdle can be even more challenging. And that is creating an environment that men actually want to be a part of. For a new group just starting out, this usually takes time. I’ve seen the initial adjustment period take only a couple of weeks (guys getting used to one another) and I’ve seen it take several weeks (guys finally feeling comfortable enough to let their guards down and be real and authentic). But here’s the really cool thing about overcoming the second hurdle. Once that “I want to be a part of this” environment is established, you won’t have to worry about guys showing up any longer. They will make it a priority to be there.
And that’s when the real magic happens.
Vince shares some great thoughts on what really good Men’s Groups look like. If you lead a group of men (from church or from your community), I think there’s something in here for you.
Former Blackout Artist 