Small Group Confidentiality

Confidentiality needs to be emphasized at every meeting. Small Group members must have total certainty that matters discussed in Small Group remain confidential. Small Group members must never breach confidentiality. A breach of confidentiality usually means expulsion from the Small Group. Confidentiality is not selective.

confidentialityConfidentiality is forever!

When a member leaves a Small Group, confidentiality is maintained by the exiting member as well as by remaining members. This confidentiality relates to all Small Group discussions and Small Group experiences. Each Small Group should enforce confidentiality by having members sign a confidentiality contract.

Safeguarding confidential information

Nothing of a confidential nature is sent to members before the meeting. Time is given at the meeting to read any confidential information. At the end of the meeting, the confidential written information is collected and destroyed.

No one outside of the Small Group — including spouses or partners, significant others, secretaries, administrative assistants — should be privy to confidential issues discussed in the Small Group.

New Members in Small Group

Part of integrating a new member into a Small Group is reviewing the Small Group’s confidentiality norms with the member. New Small Group members must understand and adhere to the confidentiality norms of their Small Group.

New members to the Small Group are not privy to any previous discussions or experiences related to current or former members unless shared by these members directly.

Remember that when a new member joins a Small Group, all previous Small Group conversations fall under the confidentiality norms, and therefore are not to be discussed without the permission of the person who “owns” the information.

Outside Resources

If your Small Group uses a resource who has not worked with your Small Group and has not been exposed to the confidentiality principle, make sure that the resource understands and commits to the confidentiality norms of your Small Group.

Confidentiality breach

When a Small Group member has breached another member’s confidence, he or she must take responsibility, admit it directly to the injured party, and apologize for it. The member must then tell the moderator and offer his or her resignation. In most Small Groups, a breach in confidentiality leads to acceptance of the resignation. Small Group members may decide to make an exception and allow the member to remain.

A member who has had his or her confidentiality breached should contact the moderator to discuss the situation. The moderator investigates the incident and brings the matter to the Small Group for discussion and resolution.

Frequent reminders

The moderator reminds members at every meeting of the absolute expectation of confidentiality. At regular intervals during the year, the moderator initiates a discussion about the group’s understanding of confidentiality and has the group discuss a confidentiality case study.

Confidentiality and the law

It is important for Small Group members to understand the limits of Small Group confidentiality. Although Small Group members shall not voluntarily disclose any information that is discussed in Small Group, a Small Group member may be compelled to disclose certain information as required by process of law, such as pursuant to a subpoena in a court proceeding or investigation.

Small Group members should expect that, unlike attorney-client privilege communications that are generally respected in the United States, Small Group confidentiality would not be respected by a court in legal proceedings. Thus, if an attempt is made to compel testimony of a Small Group member in a legal proceeding or investigation, courts will require individuals to testify about relevant discussions and other information that occurred in Small Group.

The specific application and scope of Small Group confidentiality may vary worldwide as determined by the laws of each particular jurisdiction.

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