Unit VI Assesment (COMM)

118 Chapter g

Gatekeeper Encourages people who `Blair, we've not heard

talk too much to contrib- what you think. What do

ute less and invites those you suggest we do?" Dominator Tries to take control of "Now here's what we're who are less talkative to

the group, talks too going to do: Martin, you participate

much, and uses flattery will take notes today;

or aggression to push Alice, you go get us"some Follower Goes along with the sug- "I can support that option. his or her ideas on coffee; and Luke, I want

gestions and ideas of You have summarized the the group you to just sit there in other group members issue about the same way case I need you to run

I see It" back to my office to get

Emotion Verbalizes how the group "We seem to be frustrated the Simpson tile:'

expresser may be feeling about a specific issue or

that we are not making more progress,"

Special-interest Seeks to get the group "My boss would like it if

suggestion

pleader to support a pet project we would support the

or personal agenda new downtown renovation Group observer Summarizes the group's "We are making great project. 191 stand a good

progress or lack of progress on all of the shot at a promotion if i progress issues except how much can get you on board."

salary we should offer the new person we've just Help seeker Seeks to evoke a sym- "9'm not very good with

hired," pathetic response from people, I just feel like I

others; often expresses don't relate well to others Tension reliever Monitors stress within "Hey, what we need is a Insecurity stemming from or have many friends,"

the group and offers sug- good laugh, Here's a joke i feelings of low self-worth gestions for breaks, saw on the Internet today."

using humor or other

appropriate strategies

Developing clear role expectations nuinhi mizes conflict and

enhances team performance. What are the best or worst roles INDIVIDUAL ROLES Individual "roles are those that focus to assume? We recommend that you avoid assuming any indi-

attention on the individual rather than the group., These vidual role; by definition, these roles focus attention on an are roles that do not help the group; they emphasize indi= individual rather than the group. Groups need people to take vidual accomplishments and issues rather than those of the on a balance of task and social roles, not draw aftention to entire group.58 Dominating group discussions to talk about themselves. Most of us typically enact several roles when we personal issues or concerns, telling jokes that get the group collaborate with others. Effective team members adapt their off track, and constantly complaining are examples of indi- behavior to what is happening or needed in the group, vidual roles. These roles are listed in Table 9.3.. What is the proper balance between task roles and

social roles? Some experts recommend a 60:40 balance

Table 9.3: ̀ Individual Roles,

between task and social roles 59 It's clear that a group whose

approach is all work and no play is. not the most effective. t

Conversely, an out-of-balance group that focuses on just P,

having a good time is not going to achieve its task goals. Tn . Aggressor Deflates or disconflrms "Lee, not a bad idea, but general, more of the group's interactions should be about

the status of other group too bad your idea won't getting the work done than about having fun or managing members or tries to take credit for the work of

work in the real world." the social climate—but don't forget to make sure that there

others -

are good working relationships among group members.60

Blacker Is negative, stubborn, "I just don't like it. I don't

and disagreeable have to tell you why; I just 9,Z.Zo ~~c$ Norms without an apparent don't like it:'

reason

When George Lucas, president of Lucasfilm, and Michelin Recognition Seeks the spotlighi by "I offered that suggestion Chau, chief operating officer of Lucasfilm, wanted to merge seeker dwelling on his or her two meetings ago. I'm the two separate units of the company into one unit, they. personal accomplish- one who usually makes

meets; seeks the praise things happen for this decided it would be best to create new work norms by mov-

of others team:' ing the teams together into one building rather than keeping Self-confessor Uses the group as a "I'm not happy at home, them in their separate locations. They wanted the new teams

forum to disclose per- so that's why I seem a bit to develop new collaborative norms for work productivity sonal feelings and prob- lems unrelated to the

off at this meeting. My kids are driving me crazy." and procedures. Norms are standards that determine what

group's task

behavior is appropriate and inappropriate in a group, Com-

Joker Wants to crack jokes, tell "Hey, let's just go have mon team norms help develop team coordination and coop= stories, and have fun coffee. Then I'll tell you eration. As the word suggests, norms reflect what's normal instead of focusing on the task or what the .

the gossip about Harvey in accounting. What a behavior in the group; they influence .how group members

nrnuo needs nutcases" are supposed to behave—such as the type of language that

Initiator/contributor Offers new ideas or approaches to the group; suggests ways of getting the job done

Information seeker Asks for additional clamration, facts, or other Information that helps the group with the Issues at hand

"How about developing an agenda to help us organize our work?"

"Can anyone tell me how many times we have had to cancel our fall confer- ence because of bad weather?"

Collaborating in Teams 117

seems especially gifted in managing conflict and disagree-

ment. Or, perhaps you have no typical pattern—your role' depends .on the group and who else is in the group. Your role on a team is the consistent way you communicate with others on the. team. you work out your role as you balance your own expectations of yourself and the expectations others have of you. There is also evidence that your person- ality and .the personality characteristics of other team mem- bers have major influences on team role development 56

Over 60 years ago; group communication scholars Kenneth Benne and Paul Sheats identified a list of group roles that remains a classic way of identifying the group and indi- vidual roles that group and. team members typically assume.

57

In business and corporate, settings, your specific role may be prescribed by your job title or position. If you are the boss, you may be expected to be the procedural leader and conduct meetings, set the meeting agenda, or assign people to do certain jobs. But even if your position in the organiza- tion prescribes your role, there are still some roles that are shaped by the specific situation and job at hand. The roles people assume in teams can'be classified into three types.. TASK ROLES Task roles are. behaviors that help the group achieve its goal and accomplish its work. Gathering and sharing research with the group, taking minutes of meet- ings, and writing: ideas on a chalkboard are examples of task role behavior; These roles are listed in Table 9.1.

Table 9.1: Task Roles

Coordinator Clarifies and notes 'Travis, your Ideas sound,

relationships among a lot like Sondra's sug-

the ideas and sugges- gestion, Sondra, why

tions that have been don't you elaborate on

offered by others your idea and we'll see if

Travis agrees or disa-

grees with you;'

Orlenter Summarizes what has "I think we're getting a bit

occurred and seeks to off track here. Let's go

keep the group back to the issue on the

focused on the task at agenda."

hand

Evaluator/critic Assesses the evidence "How recent are those

and conclusions that the statistics? I think there

group is considering are newer figures for us

to consider."

Energizer Spurs the group to "Come on, team. We can

action by making com- do it if we just keep at it]

ments to motivate the Don't stop now."

group to work harder

Procedural techni- Helps the group "I'll write your ideas on cian accomplish its goal by the board. After the

handling tasks such as meeting, I'll copy them

distributing reports, and summarize them in

writing ideas on a . an email to each of you;'

whiteboard, or per-

forming other tasks.

that help the group

Recorder Makes a written record "I'll take notes of today's

of the group's pro- meeting."

gress by writing down

specific comments,

facts, or the minutes of

meetings

SOCIAL ROLES Social roles focus on behavior that man- ages relationships and affects the group climate; these roles help resolve conflict and enhance the flow of communica- tion. Soothing hurt feelings and helping the group cele-

brate its accomplishments are examples of social role

behavior. These roles are listed in Table 9.2.

Table 9.2: Social Roles Opinion seeker Asks group members "So, what do you all think

to share.'opinioris or of the new uniform that express a personal all of the service workers point of-view have been asked to

wear?"

Information giver Provides facts, exam- "Within the past year, the

Encourager Offers praise and support and confirms the value of other people and the ideas they contribute

"You're doing a great job. Thanks for working" over- time on this project."

ples, statistics, or other Vice President for Infor- Harmonizer Manages conflict and "Grover, you and Nicole evidence that relates to mation Technology has mediates disputes seem to be agreeing more the task confronting told us to use two differ- between group members than you are disagreeing, the group ent information manage-

Both of you want the same

ment systems."

goal. Let's brainstorm Opinion giver Offers opinions or "I think the new information

some strategies that can beliefs about.what the technology policy will

help you both get what group is discussing decrease our productivity,"

you want;'

Elaborator Provides comments or "Jessica, that's a good Compromiser Resolves conflicts by try- "Muriel, you want us to examples to extend or point, The same thing ing to find an acceptable meet at seven oclock p,m„ add to the comments happened to me when I solution; seeks new alter- and Samantha, you'd like of others worked for our main natives us to start at eight o'clock,

competitor two years

What if we started at

ago,"

seven-thirty? Would that

work?"