All groups go through fairly predictable stages of group development. Understanding these stages and predictable behaviors is useful when leading a group. Being able to recognize the behaviors often associated with these stages is helpful in managing the group dynamics and facilitates movement to a productive stage where real work gets accomplished.
These stages are often described using form, storm, norm/conform, and have these characteristics:
Form: Excitement, energy, pride, some suspicion, fear, anxiety
Storm: Testy, blameful, resistant, sinking attitude and energy, bickering
Norm/Conform: Cohesion, criticism expressed constructively, and more discussion with less arguing; Differences are tolerated and worked through
Navigating through these stages of group development requires leaders to use three key skill sets: Active Listening Skills; Effective Discussion Skills; and Conflict Resolution Skills.
Active Listening Skills
Involves listening, summarizing, and clarification
Listen
Make eye contact
Appropriate non-verbal cues
Ask exploring questions
Repeat questions back for confirmation of understanding
Summarize
Compile what has been said
Repeat back to the group for understanding and agreement
Helps keep discussion on track
Clarification
Ask for more explanation, data, examples, pictures, diagrams, etc.
Test understanding with others to help clarify
Effective Discussion Skills
Requires a number of techniques for facilitating dialogue
"Gate keeping" is a facilitation skill which can be applied to help balance the participation; it includes calling on members who may be more silent but have appropriate content knowledge that is important to be included and it may involve tactfully limiting excessive contribution from more vocal members
Ask for full participation (encourage those not speaking up to do so)
Ask those who are more verbal to silence their opinions (Hold up the dominating participant)
Conflict Resolution Skills
Contain digression
Prevent long examples from dominating the discussion
Re-focus irrelevant discussion back on topic
Ask participant how statements or examples relate to the topic
Thank participant and advise that the group needs to move on and hear from others as well