GROUP DYNAMICS and TEAM BUILDING Second Edition
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HEMOPHILIA ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT May 2009 · No. 4 GROUP DYNAMICS AND TEAM BUILDING Second edition Ann-Marie Nazzaro National Hemophilia Foundation (USA) Joyce Strazzabosco Consultant and Trainer (USA) Published by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), 2003; revised 2009 © World Federation of Hemophilia, 2009 The WFH encourages redistribution of its publications for educational purposes by not-for-profit hemophilia organizations. In order to obtain permission to reprint, redistribute, or translate this publication, please contact the Communications Department at the address below. This publication is accessible from the World Federation of Hemophilia’s web site at www.wfh.org, Additional copies are also available from the WFH at: World Federation of Hemophilia 1425 René Lévesque Boulevard West, Suite 1010 Montréal, Québec H3G 1T7 CANADA Tel. : (514) 875-7944 Fax : (514) 875-8916 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.wfh.org The Hemophilia Organization Development series aims to help hemophilia society leaders, staff, and volunteers develop the skills necessary to effectively represent the interests of people with hemophilia. The World Federation of Hemophilia does not engage in the practice of medicine and under no circumstances recommends particular treatment for specific individuals. Statements and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent the opinions, policies, or recommendations of the World Federation of Hemophilia, its Executive Committee, or its staff. Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 Understanding Group Dynamics .................................................................................................................... 1 Getting Acquainted ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Clarifying Expectations ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Group Problem Solving .................................................................................................................................... 3 Team Building .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Team Development ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Achieving Group Consensus ........................................................................................................................... 6 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Resources ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Appendix 1: Techniques for Managing Group Dynamics ........................................................................... 8 Appendix 2: Building and Managing Successful Virtual Teams…………………………………………. 12 Appendix 3: Broken Squares ............................................................................................................................ 13 Broken Squares Instruction Sheet for Participants.......................................................................... 14 Instructions to the Observer/Judge .................................................................................................. 14 Directions for Making the Squares for the Broken Square Exercise ............................................. 15 Appendix 4: Team Stages ................................................................................................................................. 16 Appendix 5: Lost on the Moon ........................................................................................................................ 17 Actual NASA Ranking ........................................................................................................................ 18 Group Dynamics and Team Building Ann-Marie Nazzaro, Joyce Strazzabosco Introduction Understanding Group Dynamics This monograph was developed as a companion The term “group dynamics” refers to the to a workshop on group dynamics and team interactions between people who are talking building, presented at the WFH Global NMO together in a group setting. Group dynamics can Training Workshop May 16-18, 2002, in Huelva, be studied in business settings, in volunteer Spain. The workshop offered two methods of settings, in classroom settings, and in social learning: (1) brief talks by the facilitators that settings. Any time there are three or more described some theory, and (2) structured individuals interacting or talking together, there activities through which the participants are group dynamics. experienced and then discussed some of the elements of group dynamics and team building. A great deal can be learned by observation. If one sits back quietly in a group ― any group ― In this monograph, we will review some of the one will begin to see certain behavioural theories of group dynamics and team building patterns emerge. There will be at least one that were addressed in that workshop. In person who tends to take the lead in addition, we have included structured activities conversation, offering his or her thoughts and that may be used in local group settings. It opinions freely. There will be at least one would be advisable to identify a volunteer who person who remains quiet, sometimes not even has some experience in managing group appearing interested in the conversation. There dynamics to facilitate the activities. may be someone who tends to interrupt other people, someone who wants the conversation to We wish to acknowledge that the content of this move along faster, or who wants to focus on a monograph is taken from materials and theories different subject. Another person may be developed in the United States. Therefore, it concerned about peoples’ feelings and may try reflects a western European cultural context. to make everyone feel equally welcome. These Some human behaviours transcend cultural are only a few of the roles that people assume differences; others do not. The reader will be the without even thinking about it when they are in best judge of how relevant the material may be a group setting. for his or her local group. We offer these ideas and exercises as tools to understanding and Group roles are largely determined by a improving the effectiveness of one’s own group; combination of a person’s personality and his or they are not intended to influence or replace her experience with group settings. A person readers’ cultural traditions. who is shy is more likely to sit back in a group. A person who is impatient is more likely to push The subjects of group dynamics and team the discussion ahead. A person who is very building are broad. One can study each of these confident will offer more opinions. If such roles topics for years and still have more to learn. are more or less pre-determined, how can the There are many ways to approach each. A simple group dynamics be improved? Internet search will result in thousands of web sites on either group dynamics or team building. The way a group interacts can be improved in several ways. There are training programs to These subjects are important because they attend and there are tests one can take to learn influence how productive a group or a team about one’s communication style. Perhaps the becomes. By understanding group dynamics simplest way to improve a group’s dynamics is and by doing some team building, a group can for one or more group members to learn to increase how much it accomplishes. manage the discussion, and thus help a group accomplish its goals, much as a conductor 2 Group Dynamics and Team Building manages the many players in an orchestra to the opportunity to improve the effectiveness of produce a blended sound. By “manage” we the members’ interactions. The entire group is mean respond to and redirect the behaviour or responsible for its own effectiveness and all participation of an individual to a direction that members share equally in that responsibility. is better for the group. Whether or not the group The chairperson or convener has agreed to is managed, group roles will occur. By learning perform certain duties, but it should not be about the typical kinds of behaviour that emerge, assumed that he or she is the sole leader. Indeed, and how to respond to them appropriately, we will see below in the section on team one can improve the effectiveness of group building that an effective group or team is one in discussions. [See Appendix 1: Techniques for which each member assumes responsibility Managing Group Dynamics.] according to his or her talents and expertise. The two most common roles affecting a group’s effectiveness are the person who dominates and Getting Acquainted the person who remains silent. It can be as difficult to get the quiet person to speak as it is Since group dynamics and team building are to get the talkative person to talk less. To based fundamentally on the relationships manage the dominant person, one might say among the people involved, it is both courteous something like, “You have