MASONIC GROUP EFFECTIVENESS

Masonic Group Effectiveness

Masonic Group Effectiveness

Introduction

One of the many methods that holds promise to increase the performance of groups is the building of group efficacy. group efficacy has been defined as the group members'collective estimate of the Masonic group's ability to perform a specific task (Gibson, 1999). Group efficacy differs from general confidence in that whereas confidence is a general affective state, efficacy is extremely task specific.

Group Leadership

Leadership is concerned with control and power in a Masonic group. Leadership can be aimed at either maintaining the interpersonal relationships in the Masonic group or prodding the Masonic group to achieve its task. Masonic groups will sometimes have two leaders: one for the social dimension and one for the task dimension. There are also three main perspectives on leadership. First, some researchers believe some people are born with traits that will make them a good leader. A second perspective is that the Masonic group's leader selects an appropriate leadership style for the given task (Silver, 1996). A third way of understanding leadership says that to some degree, leaders are born with traits that make them good leaders, but that they also learn how to become a leader and use strategies appropriate to a given situation.

This approach states that all people are born with traits that make them effective leaders. The challenge for the Masonic group is to discover a person with these traits.

This approach says that in a given situation, one particular style of leadership is most effective. There are four main ways:

Autocratic: Leader applies his or her authority to make decisions.

Democratic: Authority is shared and all Masonic group members help make decisions.

Laissez-faire: A "hands-off" style in which the leader allows the Masonic group to make its own decisions.

Abdacratic: No one in the Masonic group exercises leadership. This style, says researchers, leads to Masonic group disintegration and is followed by autocratic leadership.

This approach says that leaders are to some degree born with leadership traits, but that the situation, personalities of other Masonic group members, pressures on the Masonic group, and Masonic group norms also determine leadership.

Effective group communication

Three general categories have been identified as critical to successful Masonic group communication.

Commitment: member's integrity and leadership qualities.

Communication: discussion, listening, and facilitation.

Organisation: setting ground rules for communication, decision making, meeting structure and record keeping.

Commitment

“A Masonic group isn't so much about issues as it is about relationships.” Landcare Masonic groups can ...