Group Process and Formation
Introduction
The formation of teams and groups is, at times, hectic and difficult for both the health care provider and the client. It is always an unpredictable, unreliable and a significant risk that a health care facility takes to enhance the achievement of objectives and goals in patient improvement and well being. Several questions keep lingering in the mind of the health care provider that makes the all decision of group and team formation look difficulty. At times the fear of the group members not understanding each other, and the success of the entire team in the achievement of the stipulated objectives creep into the mind of the health care providers.
This paper discusses the group’s processes and stage formation and inter group conflicts and its management.
Group process and stage formation
The process of group formation and teamwork development were first developed by Bruce Tuckman, who was an American psychologist. In the model, he discussed four stages that
are up to date used in group formation. The model helps in reducing and solving conflicts among the group members. The first stage is the stage of forming, which always covers the early days of interaction with the client in the health care facility. The group members are initially gathered in
this stage. The introductions among the members and the group leader are made, and the process of opening up the group is created. According to (Brown, 2018) there is always a long silence, lack of trust and uncomfortable pause, therefore, making the stage to be complicated.
Storming is the second stage whereby the group members begin to build trust on each other and start the sharing. The stage is very crucial for the productivity and the growth of the
entire team (Kerr, 2016). The feelings and the ideas of the team members may be contradictory
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and always experiences powerful counter-responses. The challenges and the problems are revealed the way they are for every individual in the team to have their perspective since the challenge is viewed from different angles with different perceptions of the members in the group.
Norming is the third stage whereby the members begin to discuss various solutions, barriers to achieving the objectives set and the common threads that concern the problem at hand. At this stage, the communication between the team members is far much improved, and the team is firmly developed. The members of the group are respectful to each other, and they are much focused on pursuing the common objective of the team rather than self-interests.
Lastly, performing is the fourth stage, whereby the group is productive and efficient.
(Kerr, 2017). Argues that the group members support and depend on each other to enhance the achievement of the group’s objectives in the very best way that can be applied. The team leader delegate duties and tasks to the team members. The focus is on the development of each member
of the team. The problems and conflicts that arise in this stage are dealt with effectively. The group is ten adjourned after the achievement of the goals and the objectives of the group.
Reflection, recognition and rewarding are done in the adjournment part of the process. Guidance
and support for the future also provide here.
Curative factors
The group experienced several curative factors which brought about impact in the health of the group members and the achievement of the objectives of the group. The curative factors that were experienced include interpersonal learning, cohesiveness and existential factors. In interpersonal learning is one of the most significant factors that help the members of the group to learn about oneself and the styles in which they interact with each other in the group. Most of the Group process and formation 4 time and activities that were performed in the group were aimed at individuals exploring their feelings and obtaining feedback from the fellow group members on their personality and character. According to (Klein, 2018) interpersonal learning helps in developing communication skills and social skills of individuals in the group.
Cohesiveness occurs when the group members build trust on each other, accepting and allowing themselves to be the members of a particular group. Cohesiveness is the baseline for other curative factors in any other group (Klein, 2018). It allows the members to work and enhance personal development. Besides, cohesiveness provides a psychologically safe environment where the group members are willing to take the risk and begin to practice new
behaviour. Lastly, existential factors make individuals responsible for any act they practice and the consequences that arise from their actions. Individuals are accountable to try to manage their lives. Therefore individuals take the responsibility of learning as many strategies as they can on
the way they can manage their life.
Intragroup conflicts
According to (Filho & Rettig, 2016) conflicts is a natural and inevitable outcome of human interaction. Intragroup problems arise in the storming stage of group formation because the difference and the surface tension begin to surface. Besides, the group members open up on their ideas and confrontation of other member’s opinions and perspectives occurs. The intragroup conflicts that arose in the group were different attitudes and perception and the
disagreement about the needs among the group members. To solve the conflicts, the group members were involved in negotiation among themselves to reach a voluntary agreement about the issue of the disagreement about their own needs. The member’s willingness to cooperate in
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finding a better solution which would enable them to reach a successful resolution made the conflict management easier. The members further engaged in reconciliation, where they restored friendship and harmony between the rival parties after conflict resolution.
Summary
In conclusion, group formation takes various stages that entail various changes among the team members. The forming stage in the group formation is always challenging because the members are new and are trying to cope with each other’s behaviour. It is in the forming stage that various challenges and conflicts arises that can cause stagnation in the achievement of the group’s objectives if not well managed. Curative factors enable the growth and the development
of the group members in terms of their perceptions and behaviour change for the betterment of their lives. Curative factors include cohesiveness, existential factors and interpersonal learning.
Negotiation, communication and reconciliation are essential tools in intragroup conflict management.
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References
Brown, N. W. (2018). Psychoeducational groups: Process and practice. Routledge.
Kerr, S. (2016). Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing: Improvisation, Group Dynamics and
the Interactive Within a Fine Arts Context (Doctoral dissertation, University of
Auckland).
Kerr, S. (2017). Forming, storming, norming, and performing (Doctoral dissertation,
ResearchSpace@ Auckland).
Filho, E., & Rettig, J. (2016). Intergroup Conflict Management Strategies From a Nobel Peace
Laureate: The Case of José Ramos-Horta. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 38(6),
351-361.
Klein, R. H. (2018). A model for distinguishing supportive from insight-oriented psychotherapy
groups. In Exploring Individual and Organizational Boundaries (pp. 135-151).
Routledge.
