Human Skills: Effective groups and teams

Groups are formed for an objective, organizational requirement or just to pursue a hobby or sport. There are different types of grouping: Formal and Informal groups.

Why do individuals join groups?

  • To achieve a common goal or objective
  • To reduce the security of standing alone
  • To pursue common interests
  • To use skills and talents
  • To fulfil organizational goals and objectives
  • For learning, growth, power, prestige.

Factors (external) affecting work group behavior:  

1.Overall Strategy of an Organization, Mission, Vision, Leadership

2.Authority structure, Hierarchy, Power

3.Formal regulations, Company policies

4.Resources

5.Performance evaluation and reward system, Appraisal

6.Organizational culture

Questions to ask on group cohesiveness are:  

1.How satisfied are members with the group and the role they play in it?  

2.Are members happy seeing other fellow members participate?  

3.Did the group members have a shared purpose or are doing their own thing?  

4.Did subgroups or inner circles develop?  

5.How was the group communication levels?  

6.Did members turn up on time and stay to the end without looking distracted?  

7.What evidence was there of interest or lack of interest among members in what was happening or where the group was going?

Group Cohesiveness can be affected by factors:

1.Interaction: Group Cohesiveness depends on possibilities of frequent interaction. Members become more cohesive when individual members spend more time with each other.  

2. Co-operation: In any group, leadership is the factor, which develops co-operation level among the group members.  

3.Threat: Threat is a powerful unifier particularly when (i) it comes from outside the group; (ii) cooperation can help overcome the threat.  

4.Shared Goals: Groups that share common goals are likely to be more cohesive.  Agreeing on the common purpose and direction of its activities binds the group members together.  

5.Size of the group: As the group size increases, cohesiveness tends to decrease.

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