Which roles contribute to the groups completion or achievement of its goal or purpose?
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Identifying Both Positive and Negative Group Behavior Roles
© Veer Help your team become stronger by understanding the roles everyone plays. A team is made up of all sorts of people. How they interact and relate to one another is a key factor in determining how successful the team will be in achieving its mission. So, how do people behave in the teams that you work with? The way that people behave in teams varies. Some people are helpful and supportive, others are more concerned with getting the work done, and still others can cause friction, disharmony or discord within the team. You've probably worked in some teams that are effective and some that aren't. While there is no magic elixir, knowing what moves teams forward and what limits their progress can be helpful whenever you are working in a group or team. In this article, we'll look at how you can use Benne and Sheats' Group Roles to identify behavioral patterns in your team. What Are Benne and Sheats' Group Roles?Two influential theorists on group behavior were Kenneth Benne and Paul Sheats, who wrote the highly respected article "Functional Roles of Group Members" back in the 1940s. [1] In it, they defined 26 different roles that can be played by one or more people within a group. Their work influenced other early research and thinking on group functions. And while more recent research has refined many of these ideas, Benne and Sheats' Group Roles remains a useful and interesting way of looking at group behavior. Benne and Sheats defined three categories of group roles: task roles, personal and social roles, and dysfunctional or individualistic roles. Task RolesThese are the roles that relate to getting the work done. They represent the different roles needed to take a project step-by-step from initial conception through to action. (Individuals may fulfill many of these roles during the life of a project.)
Personal and/or Social RolesThese roles contribute to the positive functioning of the group.
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From "Functional Roles of Group Members," in Journal of Social Sciences, Vol. 4, Issue 2. How to Use Benne and Sheats' Group Roles TheoryBenne and Sheats didn't prescribe any application of their theory – they simply identified the roles. However, we can use the theory to look at and improve group effectiveness and harmony by asking what roles are being filled, which additional ones might be required, and which may need to be eliminated. Benne and Sheats noted that the roles required in a group can vary depending on the stage of group development and the tasks in hand. And it's useful to consider how your group is developing and how the task may vary when reviewing your group's roles. Follow these steps to use Benne and Sheats' theory to consider the roles in your group: Step 1: Determine What Stage or Function Your Group Is at, Based on What You're Working on Or DiscussingHere are some common group stages/functions:
Step 2: Determine Which Roles Are Most Suitable and Helpful for the Current Stage/FunctionHere are some examples:
Step 3: Recruit and/or Develop the Missing Roles Within Your GroupHelp the group understand where there are gaps in the functions being represented and discuss how filling these roles would help the group's success. Benne and Sheats also said that the more flexible the group members are, the better – meaning that group members should be able to adapt their roles depending on the group's needs. With a flexible group structure like this, members each use a wide range of talents, and provide maximum contribution to the team. Step 4: Identify Any Dysfunctional Roles Being Played Within the GroupMake a plan to eliminate this behavior either through increased awareness, coaching, or feedback. These self-serving roles really must be minimized or eliminated for effective group work to emerge. By making the whole group aware of these maladaptive behaviors, individuals can reflect on their own behavior. This alone should decrease much of the disruptive behavior. Step 5: Re-Evaluate RegularlyGroups are constantly changing their function and purpose. Make sure that you continuously evaluate what is going on within the group and take action to maximize effectiveness. Tip:Benne and Sheats' work is based on their observations, but there is no clear evidence to support the notion that you need to have all of these roles represented or to suggest what combination is the most effective. As such, don't depend too heavily on this theory when structuring your team. That said, just knowing about Benne and Sheats' Team Roles can bring more harmony to your team, as it helps members appreciate the breadth of roles that can contribute to the work of a team and its social harmony, as well as the behaviors which will obstruct its path. Key PointsThere are many different explanations of group roles and functions. Each takes a slightly different perspective. However, the consensus seems to be that an effective group has a wide representation of positive roles. Groups need to be able to adapt to the changes from outside and within the group itself. People change, opinions change, conflicts occur; all of these require group flexibility and social understanding. Benne and Sheats' role definitions are useful for looking at specific behaviors that occur within a group. By using the definitions given and evaluating the current function and needs of the group, you can plan to encourage the sorts of behaviors you need and discourage those that you don't. These definitions also provide a guide for team member development, as the more positive behaviors each person can display, the better able the whole group will be to respond to the demands put on it. What roles are important to groups?There are four fundamental roles to consider: leader/facilitator, arbitrator/monitor, notetaker/time keeper, and devil's advocate.
What are the three 3 roles associated with group roles?Benne and Sheats defined three categories of group roles: task roles, personal and social roles, and dysfunctional or individualistic roles.
What are task roles in a group?Task Roles
These are the roles that relate to getting the work done. They represent the different roles needed to take a project step-‐by-‐step from initial conception through to action. (Individuals may fulfill many of these roles during the life of a project.)
Which role is important for social cohesion and fulfilling interpersonal needs of group members?MAINTENANCE ROLES AND BEHAVIORS
Maintenance roles and their corresponding behaviors function to create and maintain social cohesion and fulfill the interpersonal needs of group members. All these role behaviors require strong and sensitive interpersonal skills.
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