Low and High Performing Work Groups, Essay Example

I was in a low functioning work group. The characteristics of this work group were lack of ability to influence each other, lack of communication, no cohesion in the group, members arriving late to the meetings and a lack of synergy in the group. It was very hard for the group members toachieve their goals. There was no inter reliance between the members. The team building activities were absent because were unable to get past the storming stage. No one was able to assume a role and the person who had eventually been chosen as the leader would openly criticize everyone’s mistakes.

The low performing work group had low morale. As a result of a lack of communication, the goals were not met. Everyone was uncomfortable with one another. There were power plays and conflicts. Everyone in the low performing work group rejected each other’s ideas. As a result, the low performing work group experienced group think, which was characterized by low mental efficiency, avoidance of reality and a lack of moraljudgment.

There were disagreements, name calling, back biting, jealousies, lack of communication and an inability for the low performing work group to attain its goal. As a result, the low performing work group had to be dissolved due to a lack of cohesion and compliance with the required goals. Everyone had been frustrated and nothing was accomplished in the low performing work group.

In the high performing work group, the group was able to learn about each other, examine the potential roles of each member and rely on one another. The members were able to understand what the goal was in the high performing group. The most popular person assumed a leadership role and everyone in the high performing group was polite and communicated well with one another. Consequently, each person accepted the tasks which had been assigned. There had been no disagreements in the high performing stage during this stage. Everyone remained friendly and interested.

In the highperforming work group, the members had been forthright when they expressed their opinions. There was a challenge for the leadership position, however, the disagreements were used in order to provide clarification to the group structure and each member was able to understand what was expected of them. The members of the high performing work group respected one another and there had been no snide remarks, no back biting and no emotional outburst. The high performing group was able to get through the storming experience.

In the high performing work group they were able to progress to the norming stage of group development. The low performing group which I had been in never made it past the storming phase of group development. In the norming phase, the high performing group members experienced increase trust, collaboration, cohesion and motivation. The members of the group were able to appreciate the diversity of the group.

In the high performing work group, the members were able to progress to the fourth stage of group development. This had been characterized by mutually applying the responsibilities of leadership, problem solving productivity and harmony. The high performing work group had been able to make the most of the skills, talents and knowledge of the members of the group. The high performinggroup had been able to attain its full potential and was able to reach the goal of solving the problem. The low performing work group never made it past the storming phase. Consequently, the low performing work group had been unable to resolve the problem which was associated with the group’s task.

The most enjoyable part of the high performing group had been the adjournment phase. At this point, the members of the high performing work group had been able to acknowledge the resolution of the problem. A review was conducted and the members of the high performing   work group had been able to clarify any doubts. Respect had been given to each memberbecause it was earned. As a result, the members of the groups asked to be partners with the same team in order to accomplish the next task. This was the outcome of the high performing work group.

References

Verderber, K.S., Verderber, R.F. & Sellnow, D.O. (2010). Communicate! 13^th edition. Wadsworth , Cengage Learning.