Chapter 3: Group Work: Elements of Effective Leadership

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Chapter 3 Group Work Elements of Effective
Leadership

• Introduction to Group Work, 5th Edition
• Edited by David Capuzzi, Douglas R. Gross, and
  Mark D. Stauffer

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Group Leader Power

• Expert power Expertise and knowledge attributed
  to the leader
• Referent power The extent to which group members
  identify with and feel close to the group leader
• Legitimate power The power attributed to the
  leader by group members because the leader is the
  facilitator
• Reward power The extent to which group members
  feel the leader can reward them

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Group Leader Power

• Coercive power The extent to which the group
  leader is seen as having the ability to move the
  group in a certain direction or even punish
  group members
• Informational power The amount of information
  the group leader has about the members of the
  group or resources that will be useful to the
  group
• Connection power The number of close
  relationships the leader has developed with
  professionals outside the group

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Leadership Styles

• Kurt Lewins three classics
• Authoritarian Assumes a position of expert and
  directs the movement of the group
• Democratic Stresses the responsibility of each
  participant to create a meaningful experience
• Laissez-Faire Does not provide structure or
  direction to the group

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Leadership Styles

• Leader-Directed
• Leader is the center of focus
• Leaders agenda is followed
• Group-Directed
• Group establishes agenda
• More freedom of choice for discussion

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Leadership Styles

• Interpersonal
• Emphasizes understanding and processing
  interactions among members
• Focuses on relationships
• Focuses on what is occurring in the here and now
• Intrapersonal
• Focuses on individual reactions of group members
• Focuses on conflicts, concerns, dynamics within
  individual members
• Focuses more on the past
• Facilitates insight and resolution of internal
  conflicts
• Charismatic
• Group may admire this type of leader
• Leader derives power from personal traits
• Group members may become devoted to and/or
  dependent upon leader.

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Importance ofLeadership Styles

• Stogdill (1974) on person-centered styles of
  leadership
• Are related to group productivity
• Provide for member involvement
• Are related to group cohesiveness
• Are related to high levels of member satisfaction
• Johnson and Johnsons (2006) note
• Initiating structure single aspect that
  contributes positively to group productivity,
  cohesiveness, satisfaction
• Qualities of the most effective group leaders
• Show concern for the well-being and disclosures
  of members
• Structure member role responsibilities

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Developing Your Own Leadership Style

• Considerations
• Theoretical base used by the facilitator
• Core knowledge and skill competencies
• Personal qualities of the leader
• Personality traits

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Pre-Group Screening

• Leaders must provide prospective members with
  information about
• Participation
• Expectations
• Goals
• Payment methods
• Fee schedules
• Termination
• Referral procedures
• Client rights, etc.
• Disclosure statement

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Organizing for Groups

• Considerations
• Publicizing the group
• The physical setting
• Length and frequency of meetings
• Size of the group
• Other aspects of organization
• Written weekly summaries
• Ground rules
• Videos of sessions

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Members Roles

• Facilitative Serve to keep the group on task and
  clarify aspects of communication
• Vitalizing and maintenance Help develop
  socialemotional bonds among members
• Anti-group These often inhibit a groups progress

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Facilitating the Group Stages

• Definitive stage skills
• Active listening
• Supporting
• Empathizing
• Goal setting
• Facilitating
• Protecting
• Modeling

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Facilitating the Group Stages

• Personal involvement stage skills
• Clarifying
• Questioning
• Interpreting
• Reflecting feelings
• Confronting
• Initiating
• Providing feedback
• Self-disclosing
• Blocking

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Facilitating the Group Stages

• Group involvement stage skills
• Linking
• Providing group identity
• Suggesting direction
• Sharing leadership
• Participating in the group
• Reinforcing cooperation

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Facilitating the Group Stages

• Enhancement and closure stage skills
• Evaluating
• Resolving issues
• Reviewing progress
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses
• Terminating
• Referring

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Difficult Members

• Typical behaviors
• Speaks for everyone
• Speaks for another member
• Behaves in an entitled manner
• Remains silent
• Identifies as a scapegoat
• Challenges the leaders authority
• Focuses on persons, conditions, or events outside
  of the group
• Seeks approval
• Is afraid others are fragile
• Blames others for problems
• Suggests Ive always been this way
• Cross talks
• Intellectualizes
• Side tracks with humor
• Wont change behavior outside the group
• Shows discrepant behavior
• Rambles or cries