This document provides an overview and summary of an Ascent check-in meeting. It discusses key observations from the trust groups, including optimal group sizes and issues with absenteeism. Member and facilitator views are presented, including feedback on what is working well and challenges. The document outlines a plan to strengthen engagement through member inclusion in activities, focus groups, and offsites. It concludes with highlights from a facilitator open house discussion around allowing more time for discussions, the importance of patience as trust develops, and emphasizing conversations over presentations.

1. THINK DIFFERENT
Steve Jobs 1955-2011

2. Spirit of Engagement today !
Facilitator’s
Mixer & Check-in !
Reflect, Share, Ideate
&
Let’s make it happen,
Together !

3. AGENDA Today
 ASCENT Check-in
 ATG Check-ins
 Open House

4. Check-in
 Overview
 Key Observations
 Highs/Lows/Discoveries
 ATG View
 Member View
 Re-initiation Process
 Moving Ahead

5. Check-in > Overview
ASCENT 1.0 – First Steps
 MVP (Minimum Viable Product) phase
 Concept – Process – Execution
 Validating self-sustainability of TGs with minimal
intervention by ASCENT
 Building “Bench of Faith”
e.g. Facilitators & Member initiators
We are learning as well !!

6. Check-in > Overview
ASCENT 2.0 – Firm Steps forward
 Consolidating & Strengthening our ATGs
 Setting-up ourselves for Longevity
 Active Focus on Content & Value Extraction
 Within and Across TGs
 Member Inclusion
 Regular exchange between ATGs
 Deploying Collaborative Systems
 Scaling up in Mumbai and Delhi
Its Still Early Days,
Lots more is possible !

7. Check-in
 Key Observations

8. Check-in > Key Observations
• Group A (i.e. Early Stage businesses) are a lot more volatile due to
operational challenges. Need more elasticity
– Group B & C are a relatively more stable
• Optimal Group Size = 11 members
• Process Adherence is emerging as critical to derive effective Value
• Offline Conversations – to be got back into the Group
– Can lead to Groupism within Groups
• Red-Flag – Disengagements earlier

9. Check-in > Key Observations
• Absenteeism
– Build stronger accountability e.g.
• Absent member should Share reason which could be
reflected upon by the TG
• Discipline of Advance Notice
• Late Coming & Fees – Should be seriously collected in Advance to
minimise accounting hassles. Can also help in building
accountability.
• Presentation Structuring
– Facilitator or a member should engage with a Presenter to maintain
objectivity clarity, and length of content. Helps in overall takeaway for
TG & presenter

10. Check-in > TG View
Tuckman’s Group Stages
23 ATGs
Our
Goal
4
7
Performing
Norming
3
Storming
Forming
9

11. Check-in > TG View
What is Working
• Intense, unrestrained
discussions & Sharing
• Sharing of experiences
• Bonding & Friendships
• Diversity in group
composition
• Individual Participation
• Discipline in the group is
exceptional
• Excitement and urge to
derive value
• Trust level in the group are
very very high

12. Check-in > TG View
What is not Working
• Casual attitude of some members
–
Not responding to calls and mails regarding
meetings, feedbacks etc.
• Logistics & Scheduling - venue etc.
• Switching off mobile phones during
the meeting
• Drop-outs -- we have lost
two, maybe a third will go
• Finding topics which are highly
relevant to most of us
– Covering key challenges of group as a
whole
• Still not got into experience
sharing conversation pattern
• Less No. of members in TG
• Absenteeism & last minute
changes
• Fun element is on the lower
side
• Not able to meet Socially
enough
• Structure of the 3 hours is in
flux

13. Check-in
 Highs/Lows/Discoveries
 Member View

14. Check-in > Member View
TG Activity & Dynamics
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
Low
30.00%
Average
High
20.00%
Very High
10.00%
0.00%
Members' commitment to Members are sharing openly
attendance
and demonstrating Trust
Meetings are following
process & structure
Presentations/Discussions
are structured and well
prepared
Roles are well defined and
understood

15. Check-in > Discoveries > Member View
Trust Group – Overall
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
Low
30.00%
Average
20.00%
High
Very High
10.00%
0.00%
Learning
Bonding
Fun
Confidence on Over-all Value to
Group's Health your business
and Continuity

16. Check-in > Discoveries > Member View
Feedback on Facilitation
2.99%
20.90%
23.88%
Very Effective
Good
Could get better
I am not enjoying
52.24%

17. Check-in > Discoveries > Member View
Enjoying your Trust-Group ?
0%
26.87%
Partially
Want to move out
2.99%
70.15%
Yes
No

18. Check-in > Discoveries > Member View
Enjoying ASCENT?
1.56%
7.81%
31.25%
I am Loving it
Enjoying
Not Enjoying
Want to opt out
59.38%

19. Check-in > Member View
Extreme “High” Voices
“It has helped me enormously to scale up in the
last 18 months. Thanks Ascent!”
“At a personal level it has brought about major
changes. It has provided the support structure
which I was actively looking for”
Business has almost doubled since we
started ascent
“I have learnt a lot, also I started opening
up, fantastic group”
This is a beginning of a long
journey, and its been a thoroughly
enriching experience, learning and
sharing with peers.
It helps me deal with many issues I
can't deal with myself

20. Check-in > Member View
Moderate Voices
I have understood the overall concept of a TG. I am not
sure everyone has in our TG. It is being confused with
networking, business possibilities amongst members and
so on. During the last 2 to 3 meetings members have now
started taking more interest in improving the structure so
that every person can benefit out of it and at the same
time improve their understanding knowledge during the
course of offering their advice/experience to others'
challenges.
“So far nothing extraordinary has happened.
but overall it looks like a step in right direction”

21. Check-in > Member View
Extreme “Low” Voices
“The meetings are not achieving any objective”
“have hardly had any meetings and hence
frustrated”
“Learning and take away is stagnant or declining”
“less commitment from members and no value
addition”

22. Check-in
 Re-Initiating ATGs
 Pause, Reflect & Re-Focus

23. Session 1
 Revisit Mission of the TG
 Following the Elements of the Constitution
 Specific Learning's/Contributions received by TG Members
 What is enabling Contributions from TG Members
 What could have helped get Higher Contributions
 Specific value addition / contribution areas desired
 Changes to be made to get more value
 ACTION PLAN – BASED ON ABOVE

24. A recent
Re-Initiation Conversation
With a Trust Group
• On mission
 The team has not defined a mission statement
• On Constitution Elements (rating on a scale of 1-5 )
 Consequences on absenteeism
 Conflict of interest
 Confidentiality…etc.
• Specific contributions got
 Pressure for accountability on business plan
 Goal tracker etc.

25. Contd…
• Enablers to contributions
 Practices – Goal Tracker, Buddy Concept
 Behaviors – Not taking Feedback as criticism
 Resources – Knowledge Guru, Facilitators Training
• What could have helped higher contribution?
 Commitment (Low Absenteeism)
 Late leverage of Knowledge Guru etc.

26. Contd…
• Specific value addition/ contribution areas desired
 Higher frequency of webinar/ mixer
• Changes to be made to get more value
 Revisit the constitution
 Selection of facilitator
• Actions from next meeting
 Build firmness on absenteeism/ late-coming
 Improve agenda setting process
 Start process of taking feedback at end of meeting

27. Check-in
 Moving Ahead

28. Check-in > Moving Ahead
• Member Inclusion
– Involve Members in planning and executing ASCENT activities
(encourage non-facilitators to minimise burden)
– Start by defining a couple of Focus Groups
• Annual Member Off-sites
• ASCENT Communities (e.g Family Biz)
– Each Focus Groups could include 4-5 members
(each nominated from a TG as per fit)
– ASCENT will define guidelines to maintain sanctity of process and
content

29. ASCENT Resource Portal
Schematic representation
Public website

30. Facilitator Open House
Key Highlights
•
Check-in improvisations
• accommodate extended discussions on few
Check-ins
• Combine Business + Personal Check-ins
•
Gestation Period - It takes Time for Trust to Set
in !!
•
TG is not going to add value overnight !
• Value itself will be a moving target
•
Fixed Day for ASCENT Mixers well in advance

31. Facilitator Open House
Key Highlights
•
Growth is good, but should be based on sound
building blocks
•
Gain Perspectives Through Experiences
•
Conversations are a lot more useful than
presentations and Gyan
•
Sharing Vulnerabilities builds Trust

32. Facilitator Open House
Key Highlights
•
Put in a Rupee Value to takeaways
•
Identify top contributors
•
Closing the Loop on problems