Team Dynamics and Group Processes

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic that defines a team?

A group of individuals who depend on and support one another to achieve common goals (correct)

A group of individuals working independently

A group of individuals who compete against each other

A group of individuals with different interests

Which group process is crucial for enhancing group effectiveness?

Open communication (correct)

Individual goal-setting

Closed communication practices

Competitive decision-making

What effect does group size have on individual contributions according to Steiner's model?

Increasing group size decreases individual contributions. (correct)

Smaller groups lead to more depersonalization.

There is no relationship between group size and individual efforts.

Group size positively impacts individual efforts.

What can lead to groupthink in a cohesive team?

Highly cohesive groups conforming to majority opinions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT mentioned as influencing team climate?

Geographical location Signup and view all the answers

According to the conceptual model of group cohesion, cohesion can be categorized into which two aspects?

Individual and group aspects, divided into task and social cohesion Signup and view all the answers

What is a common reason for social loafing in groups?

Individually evaluated output is challenging to measure. Signup and view all the answers

What is essential to create an environment conducive to effective team communication?

Providing opportunities for players to socialize Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is suggested for coaches to enhance team cohesion?

Emphasize individual roles in team success. Signup and view all the answers

How does distinctiveness affect team climate according to the content?

Greater distinctiveness improves the team climate. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of democratic decision styles in coaching?

Increases task and social cohesion within the team Signup and view all the answers

How does social support from a coach impact team cohesion?

It contributes to a positive group atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

Which athlete factor is positively related to perceptions of team cohesiveness?

Participation and attendance within the team Signup and view all the answers

What role does collective efficacy play in team dynamics?

It contributes to both task and social cohesion Signup and view all the answers

What is one way internal sacrifices influence team cohesiveness?

They enhance the sense of commitment among teammates Signup and view all the answers

What is associated with higher levels of psychological momentum in a team?

Perception of the team progressing towards its goals Signup and view all the answers

What impact does transformational leadership have on team cohesion?

It enhances recognition of individual player needs and teamwork Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is most likely to enhance effort perception in a team sport setting?

High levels of task cohesion Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cohesion focuses on the collective goals of a team?

Task cohesion Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary measurement tool for group cohesion mentioned?

Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) Signup and view all the answers

How does group size generally affect cohesion?

Smaller groups typically exhibit greater cohesion. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the cohesion-performance relationship is true?

Cohesion consistently leads to better performance but is insufficient alone. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of individual attraction regarding group cohesion?

Group integration–social Signup and view all the answers

What factor can influence the level of cohesion in a group?

Nature of the task Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about cohesion is incorrect?

Cohesion automatically leads to effective team performance. Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to occur as group cohesion increases?

An improvement in group performance. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the storming stage of team development?

Resistance to leadership and interpersonal conflict Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of team development is associated with disbanding?

Adjourning Signup and view all the answers

In which perspective does team development reflect a cyclical process?

Cyclical Perspective Signup and view all the answers

Why is role clarity considered critical for team success?

It helps members know their expected behaviors and contributions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of group norms?

They are patterns of behavior and beliefs applicable to all team members. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the performing stage of team development?

Teams are functioning at a very high level with mutual trust. Signup and view all the answers

What do leaders need to establish for positive group norms?

Open communication and team meetings Signup and view all the answers

What does the pendulum perspective emphasize about team cohesion?

It swings back and forth depending on team dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Team Dynamics & Group Cohesion

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.
A team is a group of individuals who depend on each other to achieve common goals.
- Key characteristics include interdependency, a common goal, and a shared identity.

Group Processes

Communication, decision-making, and cohesion are important group processes.

Communication

Strategies for open communication include:
- Providing opportunities for socialization.
- Designing dressing rooms for open communication.
- Encouraging respectful discussion of dissenting ideas.
- Emphasizing group goals over personal goals.

Decision-Making

Majority rule is often the best method for equal participation and power.
Groupthink can occur where members conform to the group's ideas instead of expressing their own.
- This is most likely to happen in highly cohesive groups.

Team Cohesion

A group's tendency to remain united in pursuing its goals.
It's a dynamic and multidimensional process involving:
- Attraction to the group.
- Commitment to the group.
- Involvement in the group.

Conceptual Model of Group Cohesion

Cohesion involves individual and group aspects which can be further divided into task and social aspects.
- Individual aspects: beliefs about the personal benefits of group membership
- Group aspects: beliefs about the group as a collective
- Task cohesion: extent to which the group works together
- Social cohesion: extent of liking among group members

Measuring Cohesion

The Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) has 18 items measuring 4 dimensions.

Cohesion & Performance

Cohesion and performance share a circular relationship.
- Cohesion leads to improved performance, which leads to success, and greater cohesion.
- Increased cohesion leads to increased self-esteem, morale and improved performance
- Performance-to-cohesion relationship seems stronger than cohesion-to-performance relationship
- Cohesion-performance relationship strongest for task cohesion
- Cohesion is important but high task commitment is also necessary.

Correlates of Group Cohesion

Environmental Factors
Leadership Factors
Team Factors
Personal Factors

Environmental Factors: Group Size

There is an inverse relationship between cohesion and group size.
Smaller groups have a higher level of cohesion and develop cohesion more effectively.

Environmental Factors: Setting

The factors holding a group together may change across situations.
- Individuals may have different expectations based on changes in team ownership or league regulations.

Environmental Factors: Task

The nature of the task (e.g., interactive or co-active) determines the need for cohesion.
- Cohesion is most important for interacting teams (e.g., basketball, soccer, hockey).

Leadership Factors: Behavior

Coach and athlete behaviors linked to higher team cohesion include:
- Training and Instruction (improving performance).
- Social Support (creating a positive atmosphere and warm relationships).
- Positive Feedback (recognizing and rewarding strong performance).

Leadership Factors: Decision Style

Coaches who use democratic decision-making styles tend to have teams with high task and social cohesion.

Leadership Factors: Transformational

Transformational leadership styles, that recognize player needs, emphasize team goals and high performance expectations, lead to higher levels of cohesion.

Athlete Factors: Adherence

There is a positive relationship between adherence (attendance/participation) and cohesion (regardless of performance).

Athlete Factors: Effort

Perceptions of team cohesiveness are associated with actual or perceived effort.
Players who perceive high task cohesion tend to exert more effort.

Athlete Factors: Sacrifice

Individual and teammate sacrifices contribute to task and social cohesion.

Team Factors: Collective Efficacy

Shared perception of the team's ability to succeed correlates with high task and social cohesion.

Team Factors: Psychological Momentum

Perception that the team is progressing toward its goals (psychological momentum) is associated with higher levels of cohesion.

Team Development

Three theories describe team development:
- Linear perspective
- Cyclical perspective
- Pendulum perspective

Linear Perspective

Teams grow in cohesiveness as they progress through 5 stages:
- Forming
- Storming
- Norming
- Performing
- Adjourning

Cyclical Perspective

Team development resembles a life cycle from birth to death.
- Stages include: Formation, Testing limits, Expected behaviors and norms, Goal attainment, and Dissolution

Pendulum Perspective

Cohesion swings back and forth depending on the team's stage of development.

Group Roles

Behaviors required or expected of people occupying certain positions.
- Formal roles: dictated by the organization (e.g., coach, captain).
- Informal roles: evolve from group dynamics (e.g., enforcer, mediator).

Group Norms

Norms refer to levels of performance, behavior patterns, and beliefs shared by all team members.
Leaders should establish positive norms.
Team meetings can be used to establish and modify norms.

Group Productivity

Steiner's model measures the difference between potential and actual productivity, demonstrating that losses due to faulty group processes can hinder actual productivity.

Faulty Group Processes

Group size can lead to communication challenges, depersonalization, and a reduced impact by each member (Ringelmann effect).
Social loafing is when individuals put in less than their due effort due to motivational losses. This happens when individual contributions aren't evaluated, the task feels meaningless, or individuals feel a lack of involvement in the task.

Developing Cohesion

Factors affecting team climate:
- Social Support (mutual respect and support)
- Proximity (closer contact promotes interaction)
- Distinctiveness (high distinctiveness = better climate)
- Similarity (greater similarity = closer climate)
The MAPS Approach:
- Mission (clarify team mission)
- Assessment (assess team strengths and weaknesses)
- Plan (develop action plans to improve effort and commitment)
- Systematic evaluation (reflect, review, and revise group goals and plans)
Coaching strategies to improve cohesion:
- Establish clear team mission/slogan/song
- Explain and emphasize individual roles in team success
- Conduct periodic team meetings (venting and reinforcement)
- Foster pride within subunits
- Set challenging team goals
- Conduct individual appreciation exercises

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the key concepts of team dynamics and group cohesion in this quiz. Learn about the importance of communication, decision-making, and how these processes affect overall team effectiveness. Test your understanding of group identity and strategies for fostering collaboration.