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Group Dynamics and Team Decisions
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Kurt Lewin, a social psychologist and change management expert, is credited with coining the term "group dynamics" in the early 1940s. He noted that people often take on distinct roles and behaviours when they work in a group. "Group dynamics" describe the effects of these roles and behaviours on other group members, and on the group.
A group with a positive dynamic is easy to spot. Team members trust one another, they work towards a collective decision, and they hold one another accountable for making things happen.
In a group with poor group dynamics, people's behaviour disrupts work. As a result, the group may not come to any decision, or it may make the wrong choice, because group members could not explore options effectively.
What Causes Poor Group Dynamics?
Group leaders and team members can contribute to a negative group dynamic. Let's look at some of the most common problems that can occur:
Weak Leadership: When a team lacks a strong leader, a more dominant member of the group can often take charge. This can lead to a lack of direction, infighting, or a focus on the wrong priorities.
Excessive Deference to Authority: This can happen when people want to be seen to agree with a leader, and therefore hold back from expressing their own opinions.
Blocking: This happens when team members behave in a way that disrupts the flow of information in the group. People can adopt blocking roles such as:
The aggressor - this person often disagrees with others or is inappropriately outspoken.
The negator - this group member is often critical of others' ideas.
The withdrawer - this person doesn't participate in the discussion.
The recognition seeker - this group member is boastful or dominates the session.
The joker - this person introduces humour at inappropriate times.
Groupthink: This happens when people place a desire for consensus above their desire to reach the right decision. This prevents people from fully exploring alternative solutions.
Free Riding: Here, some group members take it easy, and leave their colleagues to do all the work. Free riders may work hard on their own, but limit their contributions in group situations; this is known as "social loafing".
Evaluation Apprehension: Team members' perceptions can also create a negative group dynamic. Evaluation apprehension happens when people feel that they are being judged excessively harshly by other group members, and they hold back their opinions as a result.