Jose M Vidal
COM/330
November 20, 2011
University of Phoenix
Individual Team and Small Group Experience Essay
A team is a coordinated group of persons organized to work jointly to accomplish a specific or common goal. A group includes at least three people and even though all teams are small groups not all groups function as a team. In a group setting it’s possible that each member may have a different agenda or mission separated from one another and each team member may have a different idea of what needs to be accomplished. A team has individual who work together to achieve a general task. Teams usually have clearly defined team- members responsible and being fortunate to have been part of both a team and a group.
We will then look at Tuckman’s theory of group stage development, describing each stage and relating this theory to practical examples from my own experience and look briefly at the potential for oppressive behavior in each stage and how this can be minimized. Next we will look at what is understood by group leadership, looking at three broad styles of leadership and how these may be applied effectly within a youth work setting. We will then look at how in dividual roles can development.
The first was a small group of 20 and 24 year old from a local dance group that we created. The group never consisted of more than nine and was often as low as four or five. This evenly split mixed sex group was set up for a long term activity based work one evening each week for practice, which would encourage social interaction and thus help to develop positive social and interpersonal skills. This was a long- term group and was only terminated after four years of activites, planned and delivered by two female co- workers and myself. Groups may be defined in many ways, indeed providing an absolute definition of a group, as with much of the theory around group work, is highly problematic and contestable.