Group dynamics, leadership and communications

Group dynamics,leadership andcommunicationsTwo or more interacting persons,Influence others and influenced by others,Share common goalsHave a stable relationshipSomehow interdependentPerceive that they are part of a group

Baron and Byrne(1991) criteria of a group :(Interact , interdependent ,stable , shared goals , structure, perception )

Group description

Is a process which indicates that changes take place at both personal and group level .

Change of attitude or general way of behavior(at a personal level) .

Changes of roles , relationships or leadership(at a group level)

Even if one or two criteria missed it can be still called a group . Group dynamicsSchutz perspective(1958): (fundamental interpersonal relations orientation): People behave according to their orientation to other people and this is based on three fundamental needs of every group member : - Inclusion (in - out dimension, human preference e.g. over social, undersocial)

- Control (human preferences vary from autocratic to abdicratic)

- Affection (is the area of intimacy, human preference vary from over personal to under personal)

Group development Groups are formed for different reasons.

Once the group is formed it follows a set of successive stages. ( Tuckman1965)perspective:Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing

Adjourning Group formation Yalom (1985)perspectives :Orientation : initial stages members need to establish a way to accomplish the task members work towards comfort , meaning and pleasure of being in the group .Conflict : centred around preoccupation with dominance , control and power .Emerges between members or members and leaders .(tuckman storming stage ) Cohesiveness :Shows elements of greater trust , high morale , more disclosure and members are more committed to one another

Group formation Bion perspectives :Suggest that the emotional states of the group dictates its dynamics .there are three types of emotional states called basic assumption cultures:Aggressiveness ,hostility and fear.

Optimism and hopeful anticipation .

Hopelessness .

Members share some beliefs which generate these emotions and they will behave according to it so there are three Basic assumption groups : - Aggressiveness=basic assumption fight-flight. -optimism=basic assumption pairing. -helplessness=basic assumption=dependency.

the role of the leader is extremely important , each assumption group will search for a specific type of leader to fulfil its needs.Factors affecting group effectiveness :Atmosphere .Discussion ( focused and every one participates )Objectives .Listening .Disagreement .Decisions .Criticism.Feelings .Action .Leadership .Self conscious . Factors influencing group behaviours Role functions : a set of behaviours that is expected and /or displayed by the individual who occupies a particular position in the group structure .

Four different criteria for roles :Prescribed roles .Subjective roles .Enacted roles .Functionally requisite role .

For the group to survive the role must be fulfilled .How to sabotage the group ?

Penland and Fine broad categories of the roles :

Group task roles .Group building and maintaining roles .Individual roles.It is the tasks which the group has to undertake, any of the following roles may be played by various members of the group: -initiator. -information seeker. -opinion seeker. -information giver. -opinion giver. -elaborator. -co-ordinator -orienteer,evaluater. -energiser. -technician,recorder.Group task roles:Centered on the functioning of the group as a group .-encourager.-harmonizer.-compromiser.-Gate keeper. -Observer. -Follower.Group building roles:It focus on members individual needs,group needs take second place. it could lead to conflicts. -aggressor. -Blocker.-Recognition seeker.-Self-confessor.-Dominator.-Help seeker-Special-intrest-pleader.Individual roles:Leader is in a central position .he is the focus of group processes and instrument of goal achievement,(bass1981)

Leader is a primary agent for determining group structure , atmosphere , goals , ideology , and activities .

Leader needs significant traits in order to be effective in his central position :Charisma .Social boldness .Highly dominant in times of crisis .Empathic understanding .

Leadership definition:Munson(1921) , leadership is the art of inducing compliance,he is able to deal with group members to achieve the most with the least friction and greatest co-operation.

Bass (1981): leadership as a power relation, the leader is the one with the power to influence group members into action.

Hollander (1978);sees leaderchip as an instrument of goal achievement.

Shaw(1981) a leader exerts positive Influence over group members, towards achievement of a certain goal .

Leadership who chose the leader and which is better ?

Factors that contribute to who become a leader:

-Personal characteristics . -Individual behaviors . - skills , knowledge and attitudes . -Characteristics of task . -Environment . -Group needs .Leadership Are leaders born? or does one acquire the skills of leadership?

Great leaders do possess certain key traits that distinguish them from other people.

No research evidence to support this belief. naturally born Leader ?Some leaders give orders ,make all decisions without consulting the group and demand obedience .

Others ask for members opinion ,cooperation and consult them before making a decisions .

Lewin styles of leadership :Authoritarian .Democratic .Laissez-fair .Leadership stylesThe leader doing every thing without consulting the rest of the group.

Task oriented.

Not interested in members needs.

Aloof ,and personal in praise.

Authoritarian style:Share the decision making with the members of the team.

Concerned about members needs.

Socially close to members of the team.Democratic style:The leader allow the members to do as they wish.

The team dos not receive any feed back from hem.

Have no confidence in his own ability.

Do not make decisions.

Laissez faire style:In a study conducted by lewin(1939),four comparable groups of 10-years old boys were observed as they performed a task for 3 weeks trail under the three leadership styles, the results showed significant differences in behavior in response to the deferent styles. -hostility and aggression were higher under authoritarian style -scapegoating occurred more frequently in authoritarian style. -the product was superior in the democratic group. -morale was higher in the democratic group.