Adopting an Effective Leadership Style

It is the group leader’s task to set goals, to encourage active participation among group participants, and to assess a group’s productivity and adapt accordingly.13 When called upon to lead a group, bear in mind the four broad styles of leadership possible within groups, and select the participative model:

Research suggests that often the most effective leadership style is participative—that is, the leader facilitates a group’s activities and interaction in ways that lead to a desired outcome. Following the steps below will help you become an effective participative leader.

Set Goals

Most negative experiences in groups result from a lack of a clear goal. Each member of a group should be able to clearly identify the purpose(s) of the group and the goals it is charged with reaching. The group leader should be a catalyst in setting these goals and ensuring that they are reached in collaboration with other group members. The accompanying checklist contains guidelines for setting group goals.

GUIDELINES FOR SETTING GROUP GOALS

  1. _______ 1. Identify the problem.
  2. _______ 2. Map out a strategy.
  3. _______ 3. Set a performance goal.
  4. _______ 4. Identify the resources necessary to achieving the goal.
  5. _______ 5. Recognize contingencies that may arise.
  6. _______ 6. Obtain feedback.

Encourage Active Participation

Group members tend to adopt solutions that receive the largest number of favorable comments, whether these comments emanate from one individual or many. If only one or two members participate, it is their input that sets the agenda, whether or not their solution is optimal.14 When you lead a group, take these steps to encourage active participation:

Use Reflective Thinking

To reach a decision or solution that all participants understand and are committed to, guide participants through a six-step process of reflective thinking shown in Figure 29.2, which is based on the work of the educator John Dewey.15 Dewey suggested that this sequence of steps encourages group members to “think reflectively” about their task. In this way, all the relevant facts and opinions can be discussed and evaluated, thereby ensuring a better decision.

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FIGURE 29.2 Making Decisions in Groups: John Dewey’s Six-Step Process of Reflective Thinking