Working Effectively With Groups

Lady Cox

Who’s the Boss?

Stages of Groups

Created by Bruce Tuckman in 1965

Show the stages of high-performance groups

Help groups identify current stages

Group Stages

Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing

Forming

Members are positive and polite Roles and responsibilites are unclear Pride in being chosen for group Initial “silent” leaders take the rein Very short stage, may last only 1 meeting

Storming

Defensiveness, competition, choosing sides People disagree and blame team concept Silent leaders clash for control Overwhelmed by work to be done Stage will take 3-4 meetings or more

Norming

Hierarchy is established Roles are clear and accepted Leaders may have changed A sense of team cohesion, spirit, goals Harmony is attempted by avoiding conflict

Performing

Group has a shared vision and can stand on its own feet

Focus on over-achieving goals Close attachment to the group Members understand each other’s strengths and

weaknesses A lot of work is getting done

Tuckman’s Model

Forming

First stage

Introductions

Polite and kind

Very brief

Storming

Conflict on goal

Conflict between members

Groups form

Questioning group

Norming

Agreement and consensus

Progress toward goal

Team cohesion

Natural leaders emerge

Performing

Shared Vision

Autonomy

Effective, cohesive unit

Close attachment

Where am I?

Who wants this job?

8 hours or less12 locationsServe over 2,000 peopleOne chance only

Residence Hall Opening Day

What are things you can do to make your groups run better, faster, and

more effective?

Manage First Impressions

Be careful about artifactsStay away from hot topicsMake discussions non-threatening

Every complainer is a volunteer in disguise.

Listen intentlyGive them control of the problemValue their opinion

Make certain EVERY person

agrees with the goal.

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

Want something done?

Give it to a busy person.

Create jobs for all kinds of people.

Create quick jobs that can be completed in

1 hour, 1 day, 1 instance.

Treat your VIP’s like VIP’s.

Don’t underestimate the value of chocolate.

Remember to laugh.

When problems arise (and they will),

handle them with grace.

Thank people genuinely and thank them often.

Don’t care about the credit.

Celebrate your success.