Last Modified: May 1, 2019

“Organization” means the company, institution, or individual who has entered into a transaction with BGI to form peer advisory groups using the Growth Group software. 

“Organizers” means the individual or individuals who serve as the primary point of contact between BGI and the Organization for the purposes of recruiting, grouping and launching Groups.

“Participant” or “Participants” refers to the individuals who join a Growth Group.

“Coordinator” refers to the group’s Participant who is randomly selected prior to each meeting to choose the challenge presenters for the upcoming meeting. The Coordinator also reviews Participant check-in times and confirms the next meeting date/time/location prior to adjourning the meeting.

“Registration Form” refers to the electronic document that all Participants must sign prior to joining a Growth Group) and serves as an agreement between each Participant, the Organization and BGI. This form is currently facilitated via a third party software platform (Typeform).

Last Modified: May 1, 2019

Growth Groups provide a powerful way to grow personally and professionally, and requires a commitment of time and resources by all Participants.  This Honor Code highlights expectations and best practices for making the most of your group experience. 

Group Meetings

By acknowledging this Honor Code, I will…

• • thoughtfully consider and enter a description of my challenge prior to my group meeting.
  • come to meetings prepared and ready to engage in the group process.
  • follow the process I learned in training and encourage my fellow group Participants to do so.
  • be prepared to manage the duties of the meeting Coordinator when assigned.
  • make every effort to be a reliable and conscientious group Participant, provide feedback in a constructive manner and be respectful to all involved in the program.
  • seek first to understand, then be understood.

Compliance & Confidentiality

By acknowledging this Honor Code, I will…

• • understand that it is up to me to determine what should be shared with my group in order to have valuable discussion regarding my challenges and opportunities.
  • use information shared within my group only for the purposes of engaging in group discussion.
  • discuss matters outside of group meetings, including events, social gatherings and via technology in a discreet manner.
  • request explicit permission prior to disclosing anything discussed within my group or with fellow Participants prior to disclosing it to anyone outside of my group.
  • handle any conflicts that may arise in a professional manner.
  • remain in compliance with all Growth Group policies.

Last Modified: May 1, 2019

In order to make your Growth Group program as valuable as possible, and to offer respect for and provide value to your fellow Growth Group Participants, it is required that all Participants commit to being present at all group meetings.  The following will further clarify the attendance commitment and what will occur if a participant is absent.

Growth Group Attendance Policy

100% attendance at meetings is a requirement of participation in the Growth Group program. 

• • Each Participant is responsible for logging into the Growth Group software prior to the meeting and will use the software throughout the meeting.
  • At the close of each meeting, the assigned Coordinator will confirm attendance of all group participants via the Growth Group software.
  • If a Participant is not logged into the meeting, or attendance is not confirmed, that Participant will be considered absent from the meeting.
  • Participants with an arrival time of 30 minutes or more past the official start of the meeting have effectively missed one cycle of the Growth Group process and will be considered absent from the meeting.

Non-compliant Attendance Voting Procedure

Each Organization will set its own absence trigger number, which is specified in the Registration Form. This number will indicate how many meetings may be missed before a Participant is considered non-compliant.  For example, if an Organization sets its absence trigger at 1 missed meeting, a Participant will be considered non-compliant with the attendance policy after they have missed 1 meeting.  Groups are empowered to determine the impact of a Participant’s absence on the group as a whole via individual, anonymous input. Once a Participant is non-compliant with the Attendance Policy as set by the Organization, the following Non-compliant Attendance Voting Procedure will be initiated:

1. 1. All other Participants of the Growth Group will be notified that someone in their group is in noncompliance with the attendance policy and will receive a link to the attendance voting form.
   2. Each group Participant has the opportunity to vote as to whether the non-compliant Participant remains in the Growth Group.
   3. Group Participants must complete the attendance voting form within one week.
   4. Group Participants will be notified of the results of the voting process.
   5. If the voting results in the non-compliant Participant remaining in the group and that Participant becomes non-compliant again, the Non-compliant Attendance Voting Procedure will again be initiated.

A few important things to note about the voting process:

• • The attendance voting form and process is anonymous.
  • The non-compliant Participant does not participate in the voting process.
  • The decision regarding participation should be an individual decision and not discussed as a group.
  • If a group Participant does not complete the attendance voting form within one week, the vote will be recorded to the positive (vote to keep participant in the group).
  • If the voting results in a tie, the vote will be recorded to the positive (group Participant will remain in the group).
  • The voting form process will be managed by the software and will not be the responsibility of the group or any single group Participant.

Last Modified: May 1, 2019

During your participation in a Growth Group, things may change in regards to your work, your group, and your life. Markets, competitive relationships, professional situations and your need for support is rarely static.   With these dynamics at play, conflicts within the group structure may surface that can present a challenge in how you move forward as a group.  Should such a conflict arise, the following conflict resolution policy will be followed.

1. 1. Group Participants in conflict will alert their Organizer.
   2. The Organizer will send an email to the entire group to let them know that a conflict has been brought to her attention.
   3. The Organizer will send a separate email to the individual Participants in conflict to review the following options and request that they respond within one week regarding their desired path forward. They may:
      1. Choose to continue in their current group as is, agreeing that they are able to move past the conflict and continue participation in the group.
      2. Choose to meet with the Organizer and Participants in conflict to attempt to find a solution to the disagreement (this option requires selection by all Participants in conflict to proceed)
      3. Choose to be assigned to another Growth Group if available (this is at the discretion of the Organizer and according to availability of an alternate group). The presence of a conflict and the details thereof will be kept confidential.
      4. Choose to withdraw from their Growth Group.
   4. Upon confirmation of the selection above, the entire group will be notified as to next steps.

Conflict is NOT to be arbitrated among the group Participants as part of the Growth Group format.  While the Growth Group process is an excellent way to deal with challenges and get feedback and advice from others, it is not appropriate to present a personal or professional conflict with another Participant of the group as a monthly challenge or ask the other group Participants to participate in its mediation.

Please note:

• • Organizers are not trained mediators, and will not act as such. They may solely attempt to help Participants in conflict to determine the best course of action regarding continued participation for all involved.  They do so at their own discretion.
  • All information shared will be kept confidential and not shared with the group as a whole. We expect the same decorum and confidentiality from all Participants.

Last Modified: May 1, 2019

By participating in Growth Groups, I agree to indemnify and hold harmless BGI and the Organization specified in the Registration Form (“Indemnified Parties”) from and against all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, settlements, costs and expenses, including but not limited to, attorney’s fees, which arise out of or result from 1) my participation in Growth Groups, 2) the receipt of any advice, guidance or instruction received during my participation in Growth Groups, whether or not caused by the negligence of any Indemnified Party, 3) the conduct of a Participant in Growth Groups and 4) breach of any obligation or duty by an Indemnified Party arising under applicable law.

I understand and agree that it is my responsibility to evaluate all advice, guidance, and instruction received from the Indemnified Parties and to accept or decline to act upon the advice, guidance, or instruction. The Indemnified Parties shall not be liable for any actions that I take as a result of any information, advice, guidance, or instruction, provided or not provided by the Indemnified Parties.