Groupthink & Conflict

Groupthink is a term to describe faulty decision-making by team members who are overly eager to agree with one another. Many fall victim because we fear rejection, and want to fit in.(Business Communication-5th Edition : Unit 1, pg. 38)

Groups suffering from groupthink fail to check for alternatives, and ignore the thoughts and choices of others.

Symptoms of Groupthink:

• peer/group member pressure
• self-censorship
• collective efforts to rationalize

Effective teams avoid groupthink by:

•  striving for team diversity
• encourage open discussion
• evaluate all alternatives prior to decision making
• consider how decisions are implemented
• having a "plan b" if further decisions have to be made

With any group, conflict is normal in team interactions. Conflict is the opposition of individuals, disagreement gives rise to tension among group members. Conflict is a natural, and it is happens quite often.Conflict can arise when there is competition, when people are dependent on others to get tasks finished, when there is a misunderstanding, when communication barriers are present that prevent full communication and when personalities are too different.Although conflict is viewed negatively it can be beneficial at certain times and to a certain extent.  Many people react differently to problems, and many are not aware of how to handle conflict. Some people deal with problems by excluding them self from the situation by keeping quiet or withdrawing from the group in order to avoid conflict, others handle the issue at hand by voicing their concerns. Accommodating handling occurs when someone will give in, in order to satisfy the opposing side to allow group work to continue. Sharing and taking responsibility of the situation occurs when there is equal compromise and everyone is satisfied with the resulting action. 

My Bad Expierence With Poor Group Behavior

I have had my share of productive group work within a work setting and with peers at school. Unfortunately, I have been in a situation where I experienced poor group behaviors. When poor group behaviors occur it affects the entire group, and the actions of others do take a toll on how the remainder of the time spent in that group plays out.

In my first year of post-secondary one of the professors allowed us to choose our own group to develop a PowerPoint presentation. I was excited for the group work as it is very interactive and I also had classmates that I wanted to work with, big mistake! I chose to work with females I became "friends" with and were comfortable with. All three of us worked in a group, where we developed a group contract. At first everything went well, we agreed on a topic, we designated specific tasks and worked on the PowerPoint as a functioning group. The great work ethic changed drastically, the group fell a part when people were unable to make time for meetings, and fell behind in merging our researched work. Attitudes begun to change, excuses became more frequent and everyone was not co-operative, at this point I became frustrated with my team members. I realized that I no longer had interest in the group and was very distant. We did manage to get the work completed, but it was hard because ideas of others were ignored. Surprisingly,we received an A on our assignment

. This group situation has made me very cautious in group work after being in a situation where it became hard to function together. ideas of others were ignored.

Moral to the story do not think that working with people you know or are friends with will always generate a positive/ functioning team. Negative behaviors change the behaviors and dynamics of the entire group.

Examining Negative Behaviors

Not all groups formed have positive work dynamics. Some teams increase frustration, lower productivity, and create unsatisfactory work. There are many reasons to why negativity can arise among peers or colleagues in a group setting. Negative behaviors are shown with poor attitudes and body language. It is unfortunate that one persons negativity can cause havoc to the entire team/group.

Poor behavior is shown when the group is interrupted, and cannot achieve anything as a whole.

Signs of negative behaviors are as followed:

• Blocking the ideas of others
• Insulting and/or criticizing others
• Wasting group time
• Improper jokes and comments
• Failing to stay on tasks
• Withdrawing and/or failing to participate

Reasons that may play a factor in unpleasant group environments:

• individual needs
• age 
• gender differences
• cultural diversity 

Examining Positive Behaviors

Positive behavior is a critical ingredient in establishing a successful group. Positive behavior that is shared with others, usually attracts a healthier group dynamic.

 The dynamics of a group can be influenced by many factors :

• Positive conflict resolution (will be discussed further)
• Peer/colleague support
• Active listening
• Contribution of information and ideas
• Analyzing tasks

Example of Behavioral Reinforcment - Family Guy

To each individual there is a unique personality. Personalities impact how others functions and responds. Not all team members share the amount of involvement in the group. Some individuals play more of an active role by expressing opinions, while other members are less vocal. Not all members of a group are sociable. Some members appear to be warm, while others are indifferent. A sign of negative group behavior is shown when one or more members of a group constantly disagrees with other members, while others are more friendly and open to accepting the ideas of others. Some take their involvement seriously, while others are focused on their own needs.

What is a group? What are the norms of group behavior?

Every organization is a group. A group refers to two or more people who share common ideas and come together to achieve work. Groups are also known as teams. All though an individual has a mind and thoughts of there own, as a team each person interacts to form one identity.

There are many types of groups, some that work together better than others. We learn group participation from as early as our toddler years through playgroup interaction and daycare settings. As we grow older we develop interactions and form groups that are beneficial to several aspects of life. Being able to work with others is a characteristic that everyone should have, and will follow us into many areas in life such as-- leisure sport groups, workplaces, and school/college. Groups can be categorized into informal and formal settings.

The structure, interaction, and communication of the group will determine the success or failure of the group. A function group will emit positive behaviors that will result in a productive and successful team. Whereas, a group with a lot of issues with negative behaviors and no structure results in no production and no achievement.

Blogger Bio

Hello fellow bloggers.
My name is Sharralee and I am a Sheridan College student, currently, I in my second semester of Medical Office Administration. I am a female in my mid-twenties who has a passion for the medical field and people interaction ; moreover, this is the main reason I chose to pursue this as my career path. But why blog? I believe it is necessary to share the importance of understanding how group behavior affects productivity.

MY GOALS: 

To give direction to proper group behaviors

Spot and resolve individual negative behaviors. 

Benefits of group participation.