What misstep is identified for new group leaders when working with older members?

What misstep is identified for new group leaders when working with older members?

• A. Not Self-Disclosing
• B. Overly Self-Disclosing
• C. Too Much Boundary Setting
• D. Starting With Group Contracts

Answer: (A)

Not sharing any personal disclosure from the leader is the misstep here. Self-disclosure is a purposeful tool that helps establish trust, model authenticity, and reduce the power distance between the facilitator and participants. With older members, a brief, relevant personal note can normalize struggles, validate their experiences, and invite them to contribute more openly. If a new group leader with older members withholds such disclosure, it can create distance, make the leader seem inaccessible, and hinder the development of group cohesion. Self-disclosure should be intentional and brief—relevant to the discussion and not dominating the session. The other options describe approaches that can be appropriate in different contexts: modest self-disclosure is possible but not excessive; maintaining boundaries is necessary, but not so rigid as to prevent connection; and starting with group contracts is a common, constructive way to set expectations. The misstep identified emphasizes the importance of using appropriate, purposeful self-disclosure to foster engagement with older group members.

Not sharing any personal disclosure from the leader is the misstep here. Self-disclosure is a purposeful tool that helps establish trust, model authenticity, and reduce the power distance between the facilitator and participants. With older members, a brief, relevant personal note can normalize struggles, validate their experiences, and invite them to contribute more openly. If a new group leader with older members withholds such disclosure, it can create distance, make the leader seem inaccessible, and hinder the development of group cohesion.

Self-disclosure should be intentional and brief—relevant to the discussion and not dominating the session. The other options describe approaches that can be appropriate in different contexts: modest self-disclosure is possible but not excessive; maintaining boundaries is necessary, but not so rigid as to prevent connection; and starting with group contracts is a common, constructive way to set expectations. The misstep identified emphasizes the importance of using appropriate, purposeful self-disclosure to foster engagement with older group members.