MPS 28: Group skills Donald R. Woods Chemical Engineering McMaster University Hamilton, ON Canada 1

MPS 28: Group skills Def: application of problem solving and interpersonal skills to efficiently and effectively complete a task & develop good morale among the group members 2

MPS 28: Group skills Why important? 1. Needed often 2. Can be improved dramatically 3. Stage in the evolution toward Team skills 4. Life sometimes appears to be a series of meetings 3

MPS 28: Group skills Pretest: Use an “x” to rate your Awareness & Skill Time 10 s Finish by _________ Objectives... Read over... Time _____ Finish by _________ Pretest: Use an “x” to rate your Awareness & Skill Time 10 s Finish by _________ Objectives... Read over... Time _____ Finish by _________ 4

MPS 28: Group skills Option As individuals complete the 13-question inventory about effective groups Discuss with neighbour 5

MPS 28: Group skills Where it fits in 6

MPS 28: Group skills Four basics of interpersonal relations. MPS 52 #1 Seven personal fundamental RIGHTS R be Respected I to Inform or to express an opinion G to have Goals & needs & express these. H to Have feelings & express them. T Trouble & make mistakes & be forgiven. S to Select your response to others Claim these rights and honor these in others. 7

MPS 28: Group skills Interpersonal basics: #2 Destroyers: 4 NO’s!Gottman Contempt Criticism Defensiveness Withdrawal and stonewalling Did the contemptuous critter sit on de fence or the stonewall? 8

MPS 28: Group skills Interpersonal basics #3 Build Trust with integrity, competency and benevolence integrity: keep commitments to yourself and others. clarify expectations show personal integrity, honesty and loyalty promptly and sincerely apologize honor the fundamental RIGHTS avoid the destroyers. take time to see things from the perspectives of others. accept others "warts and all." benevolent acts as: not saying ill of the person behind his/her back 9

MPS 28: Group skills Interpersonal basics #3 continued: We destroy trust by - not meeting commitments. - selectively listen, & use info out of context. - not accept other’s experience as being valid. - make changes that affect others without consult. - wear them down via “broken record”. - subtly change context/issues/wording gradually #4 Give feedback that helps: 5 positive features/strengths & 2 areas to work on [not 50 things that are wrong!!!] 10

MPS 28: Group skills Research tells us: ●Need both -Task oriented activities ( to get job done) & - Morale oriented activities (to keep the group happy, trustful & cohesive) ● Need Chairperson as facilitator - aware of what is & what should be going on in the group - aware of ideas flow - nudge process - remind of time - maintain decorum & sense of organization ● Leadership.. Changes from person to person as the group activity continues; whoever has the most pertinent expertise related to the task is the “momentary leader”.. Don’t confuse chairperson with leadership. 11

MPS 28: Group skills So what? Feedback form for individuals about Task & Morale 12

MPS 28: Group skills Activity: as individual, read over form and check you understand the words for TASK 1 task process: how the group is working on the task: have we defined the problem? 3 task of getting the problem solved. Is the density of water 1 Mg/m 3 ? for MORALE 1 about morale process: how are we doing working together: have we all had a chance to talk? 3 task of improving the morale TIME _________ Activity: as individual, read over form and check you understand the words for TASK 1 task process: how the group is working on the task: have we defined the problem? 3 task of getting the problem solved. Is the density of water 1 Mg/m 3 ? for MORALE 1 about morale process: how are we doing working together: have we all had a chance to talk? 3 task of improving the morale TIME _________ 13

MPS 28: Group skills Activity: Discuss with neighbour. TIME 2 min As individuals write reflections. TIME 2 min Activity: Discuss with neighbour. TIME 2 min As individuals write reflections. TIME 2 min 14

MPS 28: Group skills Practise with form Activity: I’ll say some comments identified by #; Put the # in the “best” row that identifies the type of behavior: Example: #1: “Now what’s the task here?” Is probably in TASK Observer- task process +. You would put #1 in that row. This assessment depends on the context and the body language; do the best you can. Work as an individual Add number to column 1 on form 15

MPS 28: Group skills Leader says statements #2 to #7 twice (& tries to keep the same body language and inflection) Your task is to enter the number in the column on the form. Indicate whether TASK or MORALE; -which subcategory Whether positive or negative 16

MPS 28: Group skills Feedback: Statements: 2. “I don’t like that idea” 3. “Let’s stick to the point.” 4. “ Here’s an idea, why don’t we.” 5. “I support Joe’s idea. “ 6. “Let me check, Bill, do you mean...?” 7. “Only 5 minutes left.” Discuss with neighbor TIME ______ 17

MPS 28: Group skills Use of the form. Find a partner: one will be the client within a group, the other will be a personal observer Form a fishbowl with the client forming a group with the individual observers outside. Clients-group will be given a problem to resolve. Observers will note body language, contributions and interpersonal interactions on form; then summarize to give constructive feedback to the client. 18

MPS 28: Group skills Research tells us: ● Performance improves if we pause and reflect ● Performance improves if we set goals ● Useful if individuals have chance to state his/her contribution to task and to morale (without discussion) So what? After each meeting the group will self assess its performance (observers will keep observing & completing the form) 19

MPS 28: Group skills Group feedback Form 1.Group assess 2.Individual contribution 3.5 Plus; 2 areas to improve 20

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MPS 28: Group skills C hair is ________________ Take first couple of minutes and create an agenda No agenda, no meeting Normally if the Chair is appointed ahead of time, the chair creates an agenda & sends it to all well before the meeting; no agenda, don’t attend. 22

MPS 28: Group skills 23 Group assess, Date, use as basis for next meeting

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MPS 28: Group skills C hair is ________________ Take first couple of minutes and create an agenda No agenda, no meeting Normally if the Chair is appointed ahead of time, the chair creates an agenda & sends it to all well before the meeting; no agenda, don’t attend. 26

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MPS 28: Group skills More research results: ● 1. Each group develops its own culture/style; take time early on to discuss roles, styles ● 2. Typical group evolution through stages: usually Form Storm Norm Perform The FIRO-B instrument can help orient individuals about their behavior in these stages. ● 3. Groups evolve to be effective teams 28

MPS 28: Group skills 1. Establish norms: Things to consider:.Appoint chair ahead of time; circulate agenda.Terminology for problem solving; brainstorming.Method for making decisions: consensus? Vote? Unanimity? Chairperson vote?.Details: refreshments, paper? Record decisions? Action column?.Roles: identify? Reporter? Calculator? Validator?.Meeting format: fixed ending time?.Sandler’s 20 min rule: for any decision, allow only 20 min. By then, all of the issues should have been raised. After this it’s just repeat. Decide..How to handle conflict; level of intervention.Share personal uniqueness with group? Share scores from MBTI, learning style, KAI for creativity.Emergencies: how to handle.Ask member to leave group 29

MPS 28: Group skills 1. Establish norms & roles: Chairperson: creates agenda ahead of time or at the start of the meeting, facilitates the process, tries to ensure that all are involved and that the task gets done on time. Reporter: records ideas & decision & persons responsible for implementation, completes self assessment form and verbally reports as needed. 30

MPS 28: Group skills 1. Norms & roles Validator/ facilitator: helps group assess information. Poses questions: for clarification probing assumptions probing reasons & evidence probing viewpoints & perspectives probing implications & consequences 31

MPS 28: Group skills 1. Establish norms & roles Activity: as a group, decide on roles and norms for your group. Use checklist as a guide. Add other issues as needed. TIME 60 min 1. Establish norms & roles Activity: as a group, decide on roles and norms for your group. Use checklist as a guide. Add other issues as needed. TIME 60 min 32

MPS 28: Group skills Group evolves - Form - Storm - Norm - perform

MPS 28: Group skills 2. Group evolves; instrument FIRO-B gives some insight about you during this evolution. Activity: as individual complete FIRO-B score TIME ___5 min ____ 34

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MPS 28: Group skills 37 FIRO B high numbers show preference; norms given

MPS 28: Group skills FIRO B, So what? Values range from 0 to 9 in each; 4-5 handle either; 6-7 or 2-3 = noticeable ; 8-9 or 0-1 suggests very strong tendency. Affection tendency is more important than control &, in turn, is more important than inclusion. Social Interaction index =Total is from 0 – 54 ; higher values suggest more likely to be outgoing, friendly and gregarious; low suggests reserved and shy. 38

MPS 28: Group sklills #16, FIRO-B, So what? Ratio of expressed/ wanted should = 1 If ratio is very high or very low, suggests frustration and conflict. Example, control = 0/9 suggests want to be involved socially but unskilled & uncomfortable expressing this. May be very sensitive to being left out. 39

MPS 28: Group skills Activity: as small groups, discuss FIRO-B in the context of what you have seen so far in your group. TIME ____________ Activity: as small groups, discuss FIRO-B in the context of what you have seen so far in your group. TIME ____________ 40

MPS 28: Group skills 3. Group evolves To effective team 41

MPS 28: Group skills More research results ● At the beginning, typically up to 30% of the time is spent on Group process task and 30% on group process Morale and only 40% on solving the problem. Smoothly working & experienced groups use 15% of time on Group process task 15% on Group process morale & 70% on solving the problem ● Optimum group size is 3, 5 or 7 42

MPS 28: Group skills Group evolves: Group to team 43

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MPS 28: Group skills Activity: return to the pretest and assess your awareness and skill. Use an “o” TIME ___________ Objectives Activity: return to the pretest and assess your awareness and skill. Use an “o” TIME ___________ Objectives 46

MPS 28: Group skills DISCOVERY 47