Participation and Leadership in Groups

Functional Theory• Benne & Sheats – functional behaviors that

occur in groups (p. 50-52).• What are two roles in each category and

give examples of accompanying behaviors?• How do self-centered roles affect group

interaction?• What roles might you take on, based on

your personality?• Why is it important to have task and

maintenance roles represented in a group?

Group Task Functions

• Initiator

• Information seeker

• Information giver

• Opinion seeker

• Opinion giver

• Clarifier-summarizer

• Evaluator-critic

• Energizer

• Procedural technician

• Recorder-secretary

Group Maintenance Functions

• Encourager-supporter

• Harmonizer

• Compromiser

• Tension Releaser

• Gatekeeper

• Observer-Interpreter

• Follower

Self-Centered Roles

• Aggressor

• Blocker

• Dominator

• Recognition Seeker

• Clown

• Deserter

• Confessor

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator How can each type effectively contribute to a

group?

• Extrovert

• Sensor

• Thinker

• Judger

• Introvert

• Intuitive

• Feeler

• Perceiver

What four areas best

represent your personality??

Consider…• What does my personality type tell me about how

I will interact in groups? • What will be my primary contribution for this

team? • How do I feel about my role? • What are other roles that I would enjoy? • What are barriers to my creative contributions?

PLEASE focus on these items for one of the next journal entries. Also, complete book assignments on page 93, 120, and 142.

Guidelines for Participation

• Preparedness—whatever that means for your group.

• Willingness—To listen, to participate, to keep an open mind. Also, willingness to be a follower.

• (We place great value on leaders, but followers are underappreciated… do you agree or disagree with this statement?)

• Able—Know your competencies and your boundaries.

Challenges

• Disruptive members—do you agree with the “accept, confront, exclude” strategies that your authors present?

• Are there other ways to “manage” disruptive members?

• Hidden agendas—What could some hidden agendas could some of your group members have? How can those be overcome?

Important Definitions for Cultural Considerations

• Power distance, low/high

• Uncertainty avoidance

• Individualism/collectivism

• High context (self-monitor)/low context (self-monitor)

Dimensions of Team Talk—Verbal Communication

• Identification—Using plural pronouns.

• Interdependence—Expressing “needy” language.

• Power differentiation—Talking on equal terms.

• Social distance—Using casual language.

• Conflict management techniques—Problem solving, nonthreatening tone, nonjudgmental language, using “mirroring” technique.

• Negotiation process—Open-ended questions, objectivity, summarizing areas of agreement.