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C.
Communication Between Group Members
Contents
C.1.
Preamble
Often
groups begin with cliques, or form them, with stronger and weaker members
in each little "power center" and rivalries, or insularity,
may result from this phenomenon. These inequalities may even challenge
the group leader's position, if allowed to go unchecked. On an individual
level, too, there are always members who don't generally talk to one another,
while others who are too shy to join in. It's not all harmonious, as has
already been noted, but it can be improved!
If a working group
is comparable to a bicycle wheel, with the members being the spokes and
the moderator at the hub, then all the spokes must be equal in length
and strength for the wheel to turn evenly. In the forming and storming
stages of a group, the leader or moderator is working from the hub and
forwards, backwards, inwards and outwards across the group. He or she
is interested in facilitating and generating effective communication between
all the participants, enhancing their familiarity with each other, so
that they can feel comfortable and will be able to work together. This
will also launch the third stage of group formation – "norming",
where members adapt to each other and begin to share values, ideas and
approaches to group life.
For this reason,
it is sometimes most helpful to focus directly on the quality and directions
of this internal communication in a structured manner - and the leader
should use this opportunity to pair up those individuals who don’t
normally interact much with each other.
C.8.
Related Games
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