Every group has that one person who isn't easy to work with. That person brings the whole group dynamic down and no one wants to work with the "Debbie Downer." So here are a few tips to turn that ferocious lion into a tamed kitty cat.
First you have to praise your lion. Boosting the person's ego and delivering positive reinforcement will give your lion a sense of accomplishment and that he or she is a valued member of the group.
In nature, antagonizing a beast never ends well. Therefore, the second tip is to keep your voice calm and collected. Speak assertively yet keep respect for the other person. If that person becomes defensive, try to maintain the civility of the situation.
Just like any animal, you need to feed your lion. Help the lion integrate into the rest of the group. Talk socially for a short time so that the lion feels comfortable within the group and can relate to some of its members. Also, this can be taken into a literal sense and someone can bring snacks to the group meeting. Morale is always high when there aren't any rumbling stomachs.
Your lion wants attention. You will need to feed its ego by "petting it" which is giving him or her the attention that he or she wants. This person will want to be heard and want everyone to listen to him or her, so you must make eye contact when that person is talking and keep the non-verbals positive.
Just remember that your lion is mean and ferocious, therefore you must be careful to approach it slowly. Listen closely for cues from the lion about how they are feeling and read their body language. They may be sending you signals for help without you even knowing it, so pay attention to what they are doing.
Finally, you must always neuter or spay your lion. You need to continue to boost the ego of your lion. Let him or her know that they have contributed to the group and that their contributions matter. Also, know the difference in how to act toward your lion depending on its gender. Know that conflict will arise and that civil problem solving is key.
Following these simple steps give you the ability to work with any unmanageable group member by turning your savage beast into a domesticated house pet.
Information on taming your lion presented by:
Eckstein, Nancy J. "“Making a Lion into a Pussycat”: Working with Difficult Group Members." Communication Teacher 19.4 (2005): 111-115. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 12 Feb. 2010.
There was a good attempt at humor and creativity presented in this post. The use of metaphors in comparing small groups to animals was an interesting approach to take. Though we did feel like there could have been a little more group references and focus. We were more taken away by your comparison to lions and beasts than the actual concept of small group communication. This seemed to focus more on the individual learning to control themselves rather than how a group should control its members. We are looking forward in seeing what approach and future topics you have in store for us!
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