The Big Idea of Small Groups University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry
Small Group Learning: Help us define, clarify, or understand important issues through discussion and the sharing of multiple perspectives. Teamwork Produce knowledge Decision-making skills Communication Synergy Equifinality
Small Groups A collection of at least 3 and no more than 20 individuals that are: interdependent influencial invested in common goal specialized roles sense of mutual belonging norms & standards for group membership engage in interactive communication.
Characteristics
Group Members Must 1. Identify and articulate common purpose / vision. 2. Create norms, rules, roles. 3. Manage conflict. 4. Accept responsibility for success and failures.
Reason for Establishing Group Norms Define the nature of the group Clarify relationships Express collective values Identify value of members to group
Seek first to understand, then to be understood Openness / Objectivity Purpose / Clarity Inclusiveness Don t be afraid of conflict
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Self-Awareness Self-Regulation Empathy Motivation Social Skills Recommended Reading: What Makes a Leader? by Daniel Goleman; HBR January 2004
What s the Story??
GROUP LEADERSHIP Leadership is a set of behaviors exhibited in a proactive process a process dependent on an understanding of, and facility at, communication. Patricia Witherspoon, Communicating Leadership
Group Leadership Self-Assessment
The Doer A Strengths Tendencies include: Getting immediate results Making quick decisions Persistence Solving problems Taking charge Self-reliance Accepting challenges Ideal environment includes: Many new and varied activities. Opportunity to. challenges. assignments. Freedom to. Control over situations. from others.
The Doer A Strengths Tendencies include: Getting immediate results Making quick decisions Persistence Solving problems Taking charge Self-reliance Accepting challenges Ideal environment includes: Many new and varied activities Opportunity to get things done Continual challenges Difficult assignments Freedom to act Control over situations Direct answers from others
The Doer A Weaknesses May have tendencies which Needs others to provide: include: Sensitivity to needs for others Insensitivity to others Caution Impatience Details and facts Overlooks risks and cautions Inflexibility and unyielding Should Focus on: Taking on too much Being inattentive to detail Resenting restrictions Being more. Being too demanding of others
The Doer A Weaknesses May have tendencies which Needs others to provide: include: Sensitivity to needs for others Insensitivity to others Caution Impatience Details and facts Overlooks risks and cautions Inflexibility and unyielding Should Focus on: Taking on too much Patience Being inattentive to detail Sensitivity to the needs of others Resenting restrictions Being more flexible Being too demanding of others
The Influencer B Strengths Tendencies include: Optimism Enthusiasm Being personable Making a good impression Being verbally articulate A desire to help others Creating an entertaining climate The ideal environment includes: A atmosphere. Freedom from. Opportunity to. Public recognition of ability. Opportunity to verbalize. Positive reinforcement and praise. response to ideas.
The Influencer B Strengths Tendencies include: Optimism Enthusiasm Being personable Making a good impression Being verbally articulate A desire to help others Creating an entertaining climate The ideal environment includes: A friendly atmosphere Freedom from control and detail Opportunity to influence others Public recognition of ability Opportunity to verbalize Positive reinforcement and praise Enthusiastic response to ideas
The Influencer B Weaknesses May have tendencies which include: Lack of follow-through Over-selling Over-estimating anticipated results Misjudging capabilities Talk too much Acting impulsively Jumping to conclusions Over-committing Needs others to provide: Follow-through on detail A logical approach Concentration on the task Should Focus on: Better control of.. before acting.
The Influencer B Weaknesses May have tendencies which include: Lack of follow-through Over-selling Over-estimating anticipated results Misjudging capabilities Talk too much Acting impulsively Jumping to conclusions Over-committing Needs others to provide: Follow-through on detail A logical approach Concentration on the task Should Focus on: Better control of time Objectivity on decision making Pausing before acting
The Relater C Strengths Tendencies include: Being supportive Being agreeable Loyalty Self-control Consistency Being a good listener. Performing established work patterns. The ideal environment includes: Sincere appreciation. conflict. Security. Acknowledgment of work. Limited territory. Opportunity to. way of doing things.
The Relater C Strengths Tendencies include: Being supportive Being agreeable Loyalty Self-control Consistency Being a good listener Performing established work patterns The ideal environment includes: Sincere appreciation. Mininal conflict. Security. Acknowledgment of work. Limited territory. Opportunity to develop relationships. Traditional way of doing things.
The Relater C Weaknesses May have tendencies which Needs others to provide: include: Stretch toward challenge Resisting change Help in solving difficult problems Trouble meeting deadlines Initiative and change Being overly lenient Procrastinating Should Focus on: Being indecisive confrontation. Holding a grudge Initiating. Being overly possessive Increasing. Lack of initiative
The Relater C Weaknesses May have tendencies which include: Resisting change Trouble meeting deadlines Being overly lenient Procrastinating Being indecisive Holding a grudge Being overly possessive Lack of initiative Needs others to provide: Stretch toward challenge Help in solving difficult problems Initiative and change Should Focus on: Facing confrontation Initiating more Increasing pace
The Thinker D Strengths Tendencies include: Orderliness Conscientiousness Discipline Preciseness Thoroughness Being diplomatic with people Being analytical The ideal environment includes: Being able to concentrate on. Opportunities to critique. surrounding. Opportunities of reassurance. An job description. Opportunities for careful planning. Time to.
The Thinker D Strengths Tendencies include: Orderliness Conscientiousness Discipline Preciseness Thoroughness Being diplomatic with people Being analytical The ideal environment includes: Being able to concentrate on detail Opportunities to critique Stable surrounding Opportunities of reassurance An exact job description Opportunities for careful planning Time to do things right
The Thinker D Weaknesses Tendencies may include: Indecisiveness Getting bogged down in detail Rigidity on the how-to s Overly avoiding conflict Low self-esteem Being hesitant to try new things Resisting full responsibility Pessimism Needs others to provide: Quick decision-making Reassurance Stretching of capabilities Should Focus on: Being more. Self-confidence. Being more.
The Thinker D Weaknesses May have tendencies which include: Indecisiveness Getting bogged down in detail Rigidity on the how-to s Overly avoiding conflict Low self-esteem Being hesitant to try new things Resisting full responsibility Pessimism Needs others to provide: Quick decision-making Reassurance Stretching of capabilities Should Focus on: Being more open Self-confidence Being more optimistic
Leadership Self Awareness 1) What are your behavioral strengths as you relate to others? 2) What do your strengths contribute to a relationship or team? 3) What behavioral strengths of other people are most different from yours? 4) What can you do to have better communication with people whose strengths are different from yours?
Preparing Facilitators
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS