Journal- Groups
Groups have several common characteristics, one of which includes size. Notably, a group requires at least three members to be labelled a group. The second characteristic is that a group must have a specific decision-making method, with the most preferred method being voting. Thirdly, groups usually have cohesiveness, which is brought about by elements like shared goals (Hamilton, 2016). The fourth trait of groups is rules, norms, and phases. Accordingly, rules help guide both the explicit and implicit conduct of the group, while phases guide the group in the progress of their work to accomplish their goals. The last trait of a group is diversity (Hamilton, 2016). Every person in the group has a different element that they bring to the group, for example, expertise in varying areas or different cultural perspectives.
One positive experience I had in the group was the close friendship that developed as a result of the camaraderie culture. In the group, we were assigned to organize a school fundraiser for a child suffering from a serious illness. I appreciated how everyone in the group was so cohesive and had such a strong sense of shared responsibility that we went above and beyond to ensure we not only raised the specified amount of money but also greatly beyond it. The skill that I brought to the group was creativity. The group aimed to reach as many people as possible, and with social media as a tool, there was no end to how creative I could be in trying to reach as many people as possible.
One example of a negative experience I had while working with a group was poor communication. The group leader was not good at communicating. In most instances, he failed to give notice before meetings, which led to most of us missing some meetings. Additionally, he never communicated clearly on the changes, which caused a lot of confusion. Consistently, one step I would take in the future to make sure there is no negativity in a group is making sure that everyone feels heard and giving room for everyone to participate fully in any given task.
References
Hamilton, C. M. (2016). Communicating for success. Routledge.
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Question
206 U9 JOURNAL
Learning is enhanced when you take time to reflect on the process. This week, you will have a Journal that asks you to address the content of the unit. Your reflection and writing will help you understand the content covered.
In at least 200 words, please respond to the following:
What are some common characteristics of groups?
Provide one positive example you experienced working with a group.
What skills did you bring to the group to make this a positive experience?
Provide one negative example you experienced working with a group.
Explain one step you would take to address negativity working with a group in the future.