UNDERSTANDING GROUP DYNAMICS FOR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING

1. UNDERSTANDING GROUP DYNAMICS FOR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING WHAT ARE GROUPS? GROUPS ARE COMBINATION OF TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS SHARING IDEAS AND INFORMATION. GROUP MEMBERS ARE INTERDEPENDENT IN THEIR ACTIONS FOR ATTAINING COMMON OBJECTIVES.

2. HOW GROUPS ARE FORMED? • GROUPS ARE FORMED WITH THE PERCEPTION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY POSSESS COMMONOLITY OF INTERESTS AND GOALS • FOR PURSUING THESE GOALS THEY NEED TO POOL UP UNIQUE ENERGIES AND ACHIEVE THEIR OBJECTIVES IN A COLLECTIVE MANNER

3. IDENTITY OF GROUPS • GROUPS ARE IDENTIFIED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARECTERISTICS • GROUP BEHAVIOUR IS MORE FREQUENT WHERE INTERDEPENDENCE IS MORE • GROUP MEMBERS FREQUENTLY INTERACTS AND COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER MEMBERS • MEMBERS IN THE GROUP GIVES GREATEST REGARD TO EACH OTHER IRRESPECTIVE OF POSITION • GROUP MEMBERS ACT IN COHESIVENESS AMONG ONE ANOTHER

4. TYPES OF GROUPS • Groups in a social setting are different from that in an organizational setting • Social Groups are formed on the basis of community welfare, furtherance of classified interests based on Politics/Caste/Religion/Region/Profession/ Language/Nativity domain etc. • Groups in Organizational setting are mostly based on Structural/Hierarchical/Functional Relationships, which are need based

5. FORMAL & INFORMAL GROUPS • Formal Groups are envisaged in the Organizational Structure itself. They enjoy all privileges and authority. Their existence is more significant • Informal Groups are formed by means of interpersonal relationships. They do not have much significance or authority. But their network in the organization becomes significant • Formal Groups gets feedback from Informal Groups about the responses of Managerial Decisions

6. WHAT IS GROUP DYNAMICS • Dynamics refer to frequent changes in the behavior of a Group influenced by different personalities striving to achieve common goals • Group Dynamics becomes functionally significant when group members realize the superiority of common goals • Group Dynamics produces dysfunctional results where members are more concerned about their own interests and work for their personal goals

7. ROLE PLAY IN GROUP • Group Leader take initiative to build the framework of Group. He consolidates the energies of members and sets norms, goals and tasks for them • He extensively communicates and makes them aware how their actions contribute to realization of group objectives • Group Leader is most conscious about maintaining cohesiveness among members • He makes diagnosis on various conflicts that may arise between members and effectively intervenes to resolve those conflicts immediately • Group Leader always shares the achievements among members

8. COMMUNICATION IN GROUP • Group Members are interconnected by effective communication • Communication is open for all members • Continuous communications thrashes out all the differences among members and creates a cordial atmosphere • Communication plays strategic role in adding value to group processes

9. GROUP COHESIVENESS • Group Cohesiveness refers to the degree to which the members are connected to the group • Group members are naturally attracted by its objectives which they cannot achieve individually • Group cohesiveness makes Members to perceive themselves identified as a Group

10. Role Clarity and Resolution of Role Conflicts in the Group • Role Clarity refers setting goals to individual members in proportion to their competencies • Role Conflicts arose between members pursuing incompatible goals • Role Conflicts are experienced when members uses their energies for unproductive purposes • Role Conflicts result in decreasing of effectiveness of Group • Role Conflicts are resolved through effective counseling through win-win approach

11. GROUPLEADER’S ROLE TO SOLVE INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS THROUGH JOHARI WINDOW APPROACH • LEADER MAKES CONFLICTING PARTIES TO REALIZE THEIR OWN STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND THAT OF ABOUT OTHERS • HE MAKE THEIR PERCEPTIONS OPEN AT BOTH THE ENDS SO THAT MEMBERS TRY TO KNOW WHAT THEY PERICEIVE OTHERS AND WHAT OTHERS PERCEIVE ABOUT THEM • FINALLY CONFLICT IS RESOLVED BY RECONCILATION OF PERCEPTIONS OF BOTH THE PARTIES. THE INSIGHT OF ENHANCING PUBLIC AREANA IS DEVELOPED IN THE MINDS OF GROUP MEMBERS AND CONFLICT IS RESOLVED BY REMOVING HIDDEN INHIBITIONS

12. HOW EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING IS POSSIBLE THROUGH GROUP PROCESSES • GROUP PROCESSES REQUIRE POOLING UNIQUE TALENTS AND ENERGIES BY EFFECITVELY LEADING AND DIRECTING • GOAL SETTING IN THE GROUP NEEDS COMMON CONSENSES • GROUP NORMS ARE TO BE APPLIED SCRUPLOUSLY • COMMUNICATION IN GROUP ALWAYS TO BE OPEN FOR ACCESSIBILITY OF GROUP MEMBERS • SHORTCOMINGS IN THE GROUP REQUIRE TO OVERCOME THROUGH REALLOCATION OF TASKS AND APPROPRIATION OF GOALS • GROUP PROCESSES NEED TO BE FLEXIBILE

13. BEHAVIOURAL SYNEGRY • GROUPS ARE MADE TO SATISFY SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ESTEEM NEEDS • DIAGNOSING INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOURS AND ALIGNING WITH GROUP OBJECTIVES IS ESSENTIAL FOR GROUP SYNERGY • EMPOWERMENT OF GROUPS HELPS IN BUILDING PARALLEL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES FOR CHANGE MANAGEMENT