Notes Based on Group Process Observation in 1997

1. Josh got excited at the thought of XB Honors spreading, not only to the SMC community, but also regionally, across many campuses. Josh's initiating behavior to form a committee to reach out to professors across Vermont helped XB perform a task. He got us to act as one body and open up the lines of communication. When a behavior helps an organization perform a task, it falls under the Task-Oriented Behavior.

2. When the rankers made comments about the memos for October 6, Week 5, Steve went on and on and on, and did I mention that he went on…about how well everyone wrote their memo. Steve encouraged Maaya to speak up more because he loved what she had to say in her memo. Steve called her highly intelligent. When a behavior helps to unite an organization and increase the good feeling associated with the organization's direction, we call this Group-Maintenance Behavior.

3. When a heated discussion arises, XB members want to have their say when they want to say it. Often one XB member will cut another off from trying to speak up. This blocking puts the individual's needs before the organization's, for sometimes, those blocked ideas never resurface. In that instance, the behavior has hindered the organization's progress and therefore falls under Self-Oriented Behavior. Addressing this behavior, through Group-Maintenance and Task-Orientation, helps push the organization ahead.

4. Working on a calendar for XB Honors, Lindsey realized that he could not make it without everyone's help. He asked, through e-mail and announcements during a session, for a list of each member's required tasks that needed addressing during an XB session. Whether this meant a request for presentation time or just a day that the Observation Department planned on using for giving feedback to all members, Lindsey still had to ask for this information. When Lindsey asked, he performed the specific behavior of seeking information, under Task-Oriented Behavior.

5. What does every member do everyday, that ultimately unites the group, but never gets noticed for qualifying as assertive behavior? We follow. We back up our decisions and our decision makers. We even provide opportunities for each member to act as a leader. When we actively participate through following, in other words, when we agree with the decision made and follow through with it, we perform Group-Maintenance Behavior.

6. Distracting behavior affects the organization's confidence and determination. When Mr. Putzel sits in the back of the room, take a glance over at him sometime and look at his gestures and facial expressions. When Rachel gave her presentation last Wednesday, Mr. Putzel twisted his face in all kinds of directions and rapidly shifted his position in his chair. Rachel lost her confidence in speaking and, peeved, asked him if he had something to say. The following Friday other members complained of the distraction coming from the corner of their eyes. This distracting behavior calls attention to the self, and while that person may view their behavior as useful, when given the demanded attention, it still hinders the organization's progress. Mr. Putzel should avoid Self-Oriented Behavior and speak his mind more directly at an appropriate time.

7. April frequently does something very useful in XB Honors. When the class confronted Steve with how they felt when Steve acted as Dictator, Steve did not seem to “get how the other members felt by his actions.” Last Friday, April kept assertively clarifying for Steve just what the group had tried to tell him. Using this method, April helped Steve see where his behavior had hindered the organization's performance. Once Steve felt clearer about the effects of his behavior, the organization took a turn for the better. Clarifying falls under the Task-Oriented Behavior.

8. When XB must decide, Michele harmonizes; she looks for a compromise. Harmonizing looks to unite members and have everyone feeling the same way. This Group-Maintenance Behavior makes members feel good about themselves in an organization. Whether this behavior seeks a compromise or helps a member not take a statement as a personal attack, it keeps the organization together.

9. When Steve started coaching his acting-moderators, he performed outside of his role and broke a few norms along the way. At the following Monday's session, XB members spoke up against him. A few did not voice their concerns until called upon, even though they felt directly affected by his actions. Lesley, for example, hid until others called on her, asking her what she had thought. Hiding reflects fear of embarrassment, the fear that others will notice you for speaking against an issue. This passive behavior does not keep the momentum going for an organization, as following does and therefore falls under Self-Oriented Behavior. Storming helps eliminate hiding.