| Understanding
Group Dynamics
When people come together to do group work without a facilitator,
their behaviour can be very different than the behaviour
they assume under the leadership of a skilled facilitator.
A
skilled facilitator will assist them to be the best they
can be together.
In
making that very positive statement, we suggest you prepare
yourself for human behaviour in all of its forms.
Group
Behaviours
Let's
begin talking about people by talking about the roles people
need to play in groups.
We
generally call this group dynamics.
Your
awareness of the roles people need to play in groups can
assist you in helping the group achieve success.
When
you become familiar with these roles, you'll be able to
see who's playing what role and if all the roles are being
played.
If
they aren't, you, as facilitator, can identify the gaps
and work with the group to encourage someone to step forward
and assume the missing role.
At
times you may find yourself taking on missing roles.
It's
to the group's advantage to be made aware of what's missing
and learn how to check themselves for any missing roles
when the session seems to be dragging.
This
will allow the group to not only produce the outcomes and
products, but to maintain their effectiveness in working
as a group as well.
The
roles fall into two categories:
•
Task Roles -- necessary for task completion.
•
Maintenance Roles -- necessary for the health or well-being
of the team.
Some
roles are required for both task completion and team well-being.
For
the purposes of facilitator awareness, we're going to briefly
list and explain these roles.
Role
Description of the Behaviour
Encourager
Friendly
and responsive to others, offers praise, accepts other's
points of view.
Mediator
Mediates
differences, relieves tension in conflict situations, gets
people to explore their differences.
Compromiser
When
his or her own idea is involved in a conflict, offers compromise
and tries to maintain group cohesion.
Gatekeeper
Keeps
communication open, suggests ways to share information with
others.
Initiator
Proposes
tasks or goals, suggests ways to solve problems.
Opinion
Giver
Information
or Offers facts, states beliefs or opinions.
Opinion
Seeker
Information
or Asks for facts, ideas, opinions or suggestions.
Elaborator
Interprets
ideas or suggestions, clears up confusion, gives examples.
Coordinator
Pulls
together related suggestions, offers conclusions for the
group to accept or reject.
Diagnostician
Helps
the group to identify where problems are occurring.
Standard
Setter
Helps
the group define standards, what's expected, what's acceptable.
Follower
Goes
along with whatever is being proposed, agreeable to what
the group wants.
Please
think about these roles and their importance.
Imagine
a group meeting where all the roles have been played except
for the role of coordinator.
How
would that affect the meeting?
What would you, as the facilitator, do?
Imagine a group meeting where all the roles have been played
except for the role of diagnostician.
How would that affect the meeting?
What would you, as the facilitator, do?
Imagine a group meeting where no roles were being played
except for the role of following.
How would that affect the meeting?
What would you, as the facilitator, do?
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