Extraordinary Groups

Extraordinary Groups

Introduction

It is not unusual for people to take part in group activities in many aspects of their lives whether through work, pleasure, or community -- but truly exceptional group experiences are rare. Groups that can harness the energy to satisfy their goals and surpass expectations have a profound effect on their members, who often testify to the "transformative" power of their experience. In Extraordinary Groups, Geoffrey M. Bellman and Kathleen Ryan use the results of an extensive field study to describe the factors behind such exceptional teams, identifying the characteristics that define them and exploring ways to encourage their behaviors (Schaefer & Zellner, 2010).

Qs.1: Write a summary … pluralistic society?

A group is a collection of individuals, usually two to twenty, who come together around a common purpose. According to the authors, an extraordinary group achieves outstanding results while its members gain a profound experience; they are, in fact, "transformed." Transformation is a fundamental shift in individual perceptions that often creates a behavioral change. Things are never quite the same again when there is a shift in perception.

Organizations benefit from extraordinary groups for a number of reasons. First, the goals set for these groups are achieved and frequently surpassed, as the superior group performance taps into talent and energy that is not usually available to the organization. Group participants develop superior skills, knowledge, and insight together, thereby increasing the capacity of the organization. Furthermore, enduring relationships and networks grow and set the stage for future collaborations. Loyalty to the organization also increases, bringing with it the sense that "this is a great place to work."

According to the authors, extraordinary groups share some common characteristics:

A compelling purpose -- inspires members to make the group's work a top priority. Extraordinary groups are set apart by their inspiration and shared sense of purpose. This is a crucial aspect of effective groups, as members must agree on a common purpose in order to work together. Having a clear, compelling purpose provides a standard against which members can assess how they are doing and whether they are achieving their goals. This characteristic is especially evident in task-oriented groups, or External Change groups, but it also applies to socially oriented, or Individual Support, groups.

Shared leadership -- encourages mutual responsibility. While an extraordinary group may have an official leader, he or she is typically one leader among many. This person's role is to lead, but not in a directive manner; rather, he or she asks others to participate and accept equal responsibility. Several members of the group may demonstrate leadership by initiating, facilitating, structuring, and suggesting improvements to the group's processes. Accordingly, all members share responsibility for the outcomes.

Just enough structure creates confidence without being a burden. In an extraordinary group, the outcome is more important than structure. Group members collaborate, valuing flexibility, adaptiveness, and creativity. They create just enough structure to support what the group is trying to achieve. Agendas and roles can change as needed, and purpose always comes first (Schaefer, 2009).

Full engagement results in enthusiastic members. Extraordinary groups rely on the full engagement of their members. Members do not wait to be asked to do something but are instead anxious to offer their knowledge, skills, and talents for ...