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Navigating the Forming Stage of Group Development: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide provides insights into the characteristics, steps, tasks, and problems encountered in the forming stage of group development. It covers useful procedures for this stage, including screening, pretraining, selecting members and leaders, and handling potential problems like manipulators and silent members.

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Navigating the Forming Stage of Group Development: A Comprehensive Guide

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  1. Chapter 4 Forming a Group Prepared by: Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University

  2. Roadmap • Characteristics of the Forming Stage of a Group • Steps in the Forming Stage of a Group • Tasks and Problems in the Forming Stage of a Group • Useful Procedures for the Forming Stage of a Group

  3. Forming Stage of a Group • Orientation stage of a group • A time of initial caution associated with any new experience • Personal relations are characterized by dependence • Group members attempt to be accepted and safe by trying to keep things simple and free of controversy to avoid rejection by others

  4. Steps in the Forming Stage • Step 1: Developing a Rationale for the Group • Step 2: Deciding on a Theoretical Format • Step 3: Weighing Practical Considerations • Step 4: Publicizing the Group • Step 5: Screening and Pretraining • Step 6: Selecting Group Members • Step 7: Selecting a Group Leader

  5. Step 1: Developing a Rationale for the Group • Every successful group has a clear rationale • The rationale is the purpose of or reasons for conducting a group. • Group leaders who are unclear about their purpose will end up being nonproductive at best and possibly harmful.

  6. Step 2: Deciding on a Theoretical Format • Should function intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal matters, but in varying degrees • Should match the needs of participants and the group as a whole • The level of functioning in a group (I/We/It; Waldo, 1985) that the group leader emphasizes may influence his or her theoretical format.

  7. Step 3: Weighing Practical Considerations After a clear, convincing rationale and theoretical format have been determined, group proposals should stress specific, concrete, and practical objectives and procedures, such as the following: • Meeting time • Setting • Frequency of meetings (Jacobs et al., 2016)

  8. Step 4: Publicizing the Group • How a group is announced influences the way the group will be received by potential members and the kind of people who will join (Corey et al., 2014) • Some effective ways of publicizing a group: • Word of mouth with professional colleagues • Personal contact with potential members • Written announcements to a targeted audience

  9. Step 5: Screening and Pretraining • Potential group members should be screened • Interviewed before the group to determine suitability for the group • Individually conducted pregroup screening procedure • Group-conducted pregroup screening process • Potential group members should be carefully chosen whenever possible (Riva & Lange, 2014)

  10. Pregroup Screening Interview Steps • Identify needs, expectations, and commitment • Challenge myths and misconceptions • Convey Information

  11. Pretraining • Orienting group members on what to expect of the group before it ever meets • “Such investment should enhance the functioning of the group, speed its work, reduce dropouts, and increase positive outcomes” (Zimpfer, 1991, p. 264) • Can occur on a group or individual basis

  12. Step 6: Selecting Group Members • A two-way process in that potential group members and leaders are mutually involved in the selection process • People invited to join the group should be individuals who are likely to benefit from the experience • Individual characteristics that are contraindicated for group work: extreme hostile, self-centered, unmotivated, crisis oriented, mentally unbalanced, unable or unwilling to self-disclose or tolerate anxiety (Corey, 2012; Riva et al., 2000)

  13. Step 7: Selecting a Group Leader • The following are important factors that potential group members should consider regarding the leader of the group: • Group leader’s qualifications • Group leader’s style and personality

  14. Tasks of Beginning the Group • Dealing with apprehension • Reviewing Goals and Contracts • Specifying Group Rules • Setting Limits • Promoting a Positive Interchange Among Members

  15. Resolving Potential Group Problems in Forming • People Problems • Group Procedural Problems

  16. People Problems • Manipulators • Resisters • Monopolizers • Silent members • Users of sarcasm • Diagnostic analyzers • Focusers on others • Subgroups

  17. Group Procedural Problems • Opening the Group • Structure • Involvement • Group Cohesion • Hope and Risk Taking • Closing (Terminating) of the Session

  18. Useful Procedures for the Forming Stage • Joining • Linking • Cutting Off • Drawing Out • Clarifying the Purpose

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