When a team is first formed, it is often not a team. It takes time to develop as a group. Understanding group dynamics can help you to be an effective facilitator. There are stages a group goes through. They have been referred to as:
- Forming
- Norming
- Storming
- Performing
Another framework used by the Worker's Assistance Programs in Texas is:
- Goal
- Belief
- Trust
- Open
- Closed
One of the first steps in forming a group and moving from a closed position to an atmosphere of trust and openness is establishing group norms.
In setting group norms, three key elements must be addressed:
- Confidentiality / Participation and Positive attitude
- Confidentiality is an important element of all healthy groups. In Peer Support confidentiality extends beyond the group to active Peer Support.
- Although participation is highly encouraged, individuals need to know they have the right to pass. This helps the group build trust. Explore with the group how they will handle or respond to individual(s) choosing to pass.
Norms that emphasize a positive attitude in working with others and resolving conflicts will move the group towards constructive work and play.
As the group develops, greater degrees of risk-taking occur. Members will be able to take more risk, openly acknowledging personal thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values and experiences. The degree of trust needs to be high for risk taking to occur. Risk occurs when individuals express feelings about other group members directly to those persons. Risk-taking is difficult as it can leave the person feeling vulnerable and concerned about being judged, ridiculed and disliked.
The facilitator's role is to be supportive of appropriate risk. Personal sharing that contributes to the work of the group is considered appropriate. After sharing, thank the participant and acknowledge the participant's action. Inappropriate risk-taking is counterproductive to the group's task. In some cases, participants may be sharing information that is much too personal for the group to hear. If this happens, stop the person and suggest that the two of you talk after the session.
Keep in mind the following points about risk-taking:
- Don't ask participants to risk more than you are willing to risk yourself.
- Model appropriate risk-taking.
- Understand that it is difficult for some teens to take risks in front of their peers and try to remember to support them when they do share.
- The open acknowledgment and support of individual risk-taking will help build trust and encourage increased appropriate risk-taking by group members.
- Remember that groups move through stages of development. Risk-taking can begin only when people begin to feel safe in the group. Pay close attention to those who risk early in the group and try to understand their purposes.
- Find a balance between your own personal sharing and remaining aloof in the group. Some self-disclosure can contribute to the process of building trust. However, excessive sharing by the group leader or facilitator is inappropriate, and may intimidate group members.
A healthy group involves both work and play, and lends itself to high performance.
Attention to process and ongoing revisiting of the norms will help the group move through difficulties and to stay intact!
Some of this article has been taken and adapted from Workers Assistance Program, Inc. Texas.
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