Understanding group dynamics can be a useful tool when working with a student organization. Organization membership can look different during various points in the semester/year and it can be helpful to be aware of signs or behaviors indicating where members are in their development as a group. One theory of Group Development is Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development which is highlighted in the image below.
Once you have identified where an organization might be in their development, here are some helpful ideas to share with your student organization to assist them in progressing through each of the stages.
Forming
Develop and facilitate ice breakers to help members become acquainted.
Coordinate a retreat/workshop for membership or the executive board.
Identify expectations for members and officers .
Storming
Educate membership about confrontation and communication skills.
Share mediation resources when conflicts become difficult for the group to manage.
Conduct a group decision-making activity.
Develop a “rebuilding” team activity.
Norming
Have members design T-shirt, pins, or some other item to identify themselves as a group.
Assist the group in starting a new program that will create a tradition.
Review and possibly establish new goals for the organization.
Performing
Insure that the organization and membership have a task.
Support the members and executive officers by giving feedback about what is going well and what can be improved upon the next year.
Step back and allow the organization to perform!
Adjourning
Develop a closure activity to help members determine what they learned and benefited from during the year.
Conduct an assessment or evaluation of the year.
Develop transition reports for the new executive board members.
Coordinate a closing banquet with awards and other expressions of appreciation.
|