Class

Session 1
Strategies for Promoting
Group Dynamics
Menchie P. Palmejar
Science Tutor

What is Group Dynamics?

Group dynamics deals with the attitudes and behavioral
patterns of a group.

Group dynamics concern how groups are formed, what

is their structure and which processes are followed in
their functioning.
Thus, it is concerned with the interactions and forces
operating between groups.

1. Demonstrate
understanding of strategies
for promoting group
dynamics.

2.Demonstrate growing selfawareness on strategies for

promoting group dynamics

Objectives
3. Examine roles, behaviors
and expectations of group
members at various stages
in strategies for promoting
group dynamics.

4. Demonstrate awareness
of the importance of
building trust as strategy for
promoting a group setting

Strategies for Promoting Group

Dynamics

Pay attention

Tackle
Problems
Quickly
Know
Your
Team

Define Roles and

Responsibilities

Focus on
Break Down Communi
cation
Barriers

Know Your Team

As a leader, you need to guide the development of your group.

Start by learning about the phases that a group goes through as it

develops.

When you understand these, you'll be able to preempt problems that

could arise, including issues with poor group dynamics.
Next, use Benne and Sheats' Group Roles to identify positive and
negative group roles, and to understand how they could affect the
group as a whole.
This will also help you plan how to deal with potential problems.

Tackle Problems

If you notice that one member

of your team has adopted a
behavior that's affecting the
group unhelpfully, act quickly
to challenge it.

Provide feedback that shows

your team member the impact
of her actions, and encourage
her to reflect on how she can
change her behavior.

Define Roles and Responsibilities

Teams that lack
focus or direction
can quickly
develop poor
dynamics, as
people struggle
to understand
their role in the
group.

Create a team
charter
defining the
group's mission
and objective,
and everyone's
responsibilities
as soon as you
form the team.

Make sure that

everyone has a
copy of the
document, and
remind people of
it regularly.

Break Down Barriers

Use team-building exercises to help everyone get to know
one another, particularly when new members join the group.

These exercises ease new colleagues into the group gently,

and also help to combat the "black sheep effect, which
happens when group members turn against people they
consider different.
Also, explain the idea of the Johari Window to help people
open up.

Lead by example: share what you hope the group will

achieve, along with "safe" personal information about
yourself, such as valuable lessons that you've learned.

Focus on Communication
Open communication is central to good team
dynamics.
Include all of the forms of communication that your
group uses.
Status changes, or if you have an announcement to
make, let people know as soon as possible. .

Opinionated team members can overwhelm their

quieter colleagues in meetings.
Use techniques such as Crawford's Slip Writing
Method , and make sure that you develop
strong facilitation skills.

Pay Attention
Watch out for the warning signs of poor
group dynamics.
Pay particular attention to frequent
unanimous decisions, as these can be a sign
of groupthink , bullying , or free riding.
If there are frequent unanimous decisions in
your group, consider exploring new ways to
encourage people to discuss their views, or to
share them anonymously.
free riding - The increase in popularity of
group work in higher education has been
accompanied by an increase in the
frequency of reports of students not equally
contributing to work within the groups.
Referred to as free-riders

Activity
Building
trust

Growing
selfawareness

Demonstrate
understanding

Four Dimensions of Group dynamics

(1) communication and interaction patterns;
(2) the cohesion of the group and its attraction
for its members;
(3) social controls such as norms, roles, and
status; and
(4) the groups culture.

Characteristics and Types of Groups

a) 2 or more persons (if it is one person, it is not a group)
(b) Formal social structure (the rules of the game are defined)
(c) Common fate (they will swim together)
(d) Common goals (the destiny is the same and emotionally
connected)
(e) Face-to-face interaction (they will talk with each other)
(f) Interdependence (each one is complimentary to the other)
(g) Self-definition as group members (what one is who belongs to
the group)
(h) Recognition by others (yes, you belong to the group).

Benne & Sheats Roles

The Johari window is a

technique used to help
people better
understand their
relationship with
themselves and others,
which was created by
psychologists Joseph
Luft (19162014) and
Harrington Ingham
(19161995) in 1955.

Johari Window Adjectives

Take the test online via---- http://kevan.org/johari.cgi

Crawford's Slip
Writing Method

References
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/improving-groupdynamics.htm

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/management/group-dynamics-itscharacteristics-stages-types-and-other-details-management/5363/
http://www.innovativeteambuilding.co.uk/team-building-activities/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eajjqotwsF4