This document discusses the structure and content of a course on groups and team facilitation. The course is divided into three segments: learning to observe group dynamics, learning to facilitate groups, and learning to intervene in group processes. It explores early struggles in the life of a group, identifying group memberships, how group maturity impacts participation, and research on group processes. Key aspects of collective life in a group are also examined, such as holding back until group norms are clear and how groups can act as social entities.

1. The Nature of Group
Membership and Team
Processes
ADLT 675 –Groups and Team
Facilitation
Fall 2013

2. Exploring the Nature of Groups
and Teams through your
Assignments
• Reflective Practice: What and Why the Blogs?
Blog Triads and Quads
• What It Means to Become a Group Facilitator
• Two team facilitation assignments
• Final paper – Individual assessment of the group
and team experience
• Peer Assessment – Dee Fink’s contribution of
team members

3. How the Course is
Organized
• Three segments
• Learning to Observe Group and Team Dynamics
(4 sessions)
• Learning to Facilitate Group Dynamics (3
sessions)
• Learning to Intervene in Group and Team
Processes (5 sessions, in Learning Studios on the
5th
floor)
• Readings
• Three texts: Levi, Schein, Schwarz

4. Early Struggles in the Life of a
Group
Question: Does the individual exist for the group, or
does the group exist to support the individual?
• This bi-polar position fades only when members
accept themselves as an entity capable of acting
on behalf of its members,
AND
• When the group accepts the importance of its
individual members

5. Early Struggles in the Life of a
Group

6. Identifying your Group Memberships
What groups are do you belong to,
and how do these shape your
identity?
Consider family groups, work
groups, social or religious groups,
etc.

7. Our Collective Group Memberships
Identify Who We Are as Individuals

8. To become an effective group, members
must integrate individual differences
among members

9. Impact of Group Maturity
on Group Member
Participation

10. Research on Group Process

11. Wilfred Bion (1961) found struggle and
conflict at both the conscious and
unconscious levels of group life.
He describe groups as having three
basic emotional states:
Dependency
(leader)
Fight-flightPairing

12. Aspects of Collective Life in a
Group
One of the outcomes of
the ambivalence that
individuals experience
upon joining a new group
is reflected in ”holding
back” until the lay of the
land is clear
The group can be thought
of as a social entity
capable of acting as a
whole and expressing
feelings and thoughts over
and beyond those of its
members

13. Psychological Aspects – What’s
going on in the group
Smith & Berg,Paradoxes of Group Life, 1987

14. A Group
Effectivenes
s Model