How to be a BADASS "Badass Women's Book Club" Host

First, a great big “thank you!” for pulling all your badass friends and colleagues together for a Badass Women’s Book Club!

Here are a just a few suggestions to help you prepare for your meeting!  

I want to make this experience as easy as possible for you!  Around the 15th of every month I will send you a discussion guide for the book for that month.  I will also arrange a Zoom chat each month for all the hosts.  It’s a great way to get to know your fellow hosts and also a chance to ask questions about the book, about hosting, or anything else on your mind! 

If you have other ideas, suggestions or advice to offer to a new host, please send those to me at hello@badasswomensbookclub.com.  - Gina

Before the Meeting

Once you have picked your location, your date and your time, let your guests know so they will have enough time to buy the book and read it!  Having a set date, time and location helps with regular attendance. Along with the initial invitation, I have found that it’s best if I send a reminder out 3-5 days before your meeting, too. 

When you send out the reminder expect to get responses from people that they haven’t had a chance to read the book. While reading the book is desired, encourage even those who haven’t read the book to come.  If being around a group of excited, engaged and empowered women is what someone needs, then I think we would all agree we want them there!  (Besides, it never fails in my meetings that the people who haven’t read the book have *almost* as much to share as those who have read it!)  

During the Meeting

As you’ll see from the discussion questions I try to keep them broad, to allow for a lot of open discussion.  Don’t feel like you have to talk about every question, in the exact order presented.  Usually I will get about 1-2 questions out and then it’s off to the races!  If the group doesn't have a lot to say about a topic or doesn't seem interested in the question, move on to a question that gets them talking. Again, don’t feel pressured to cover every question on the list.  You will just have to judge your audience and let them take you where they want to go.

The only challenge I want to make you aware of is the person who might try to dominate the conversation.  Be mindful of that and – as delicately as possible – try to engage others who might not be sharing as much.  If the problem persists, you may have to speak to that person outside of the meeting.   As the facilitator of my book group, I am trying to be more mindful about “holding space” – giving just a few extra moments for others to contribute. Some people are more reflective and thoughtful and take a little longer to come forward with their thoughts.  Try to give these guests the space and time to do that.

After the meeting

I usually do a short, wrap-up email the next day, sharing the resource ideas that came up during the meeting.  And I send it to the full member list – not just the ones who were there that night.  I also take the opportunity to share the title of the book for the next month.  

If you take pictures of your meeting, please post them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and tag @badasswomensbookclub.  Thanks!