Week 5 - Group Dynamics

Question 1

Group vs team

Answer 1

Group: Two or more people interacting
with and exerting mutual influence on one another, with interdependence for a common goal

Team: in addition to mutual interaction and task interdependence, teams:
* have a collective identity
* have distinctive roles
* have structured modes of communication
* have norms
- more of a sense of we

Question 2

Group dynamics
- definition
- how play important role

Answer 2

• the study of the nature of groups and their development, and the interrelationships of groups with individuals, other groups, and larger institutions”
• not inherently positive or negitive

-Group dynamics play an important role in individual and team success, so we need to understand inner workings of groups

Question 3

5 Elements of group dynamics

Answer 3

• Role elements, like/dislike role acceptance. formal/informal
• Challenges, expectations for team
• Group cohesion
• Group norms
• Impacting group effectiveness

Question 4

group cohesion vs group norms
- group cohesion definition
- 4 key characteristics

Answer 4

“tendency for a group to stick together and remain united in the pursuit of its instrumental objectives and/or for the satisfaction of member affective needs”

4 key characteristics of
cohesion:
* Dynamic
* Multidimensional
* Instrumental
* Affective (i.e., emotional ties)

Question 5

group cohesion vs group norms
- group norms definition
- other

group cohesion is interacting while team culture is acting

Answer 5

-group norms are standards, group norms help group cohesion
- “standard for behaviour expected of all members of the group”

• Development of group norms contributes to development of group
  cohesiveness
• Norms can be formal or informal, but should be stable

Question 6

Team culture
- definition

Answer 6

• Shared values, beliefs, expectations, and practices across the members and generations for a defined group”
• In sport, culture can positively or negatively impact performance
• Should be athlete led, with support from coach and sport psychology practitioner
• Can includes standards of behaviour, team values, vision, etc

Question 7

HIGH PERFORMING TEAM CULTURES
- A high performing team: achieving shared goals and promoting personal
well-being

Answer 7

High performing team cultures exist when actions of team members:

• Support sustained optimal performance
• Persist across time in the face of variable results
• Lead to consistent high performance

Question 8

Definition of (transformational) leadership

Answer 8

“Enacting the behaviours that stimulate and inspire followers to both achieve extraordinary outcomes and, in the process, develop their own leadership
capacity”

Question 9

transformational leadership behaviours
- idealized influence
- inspirational motivation
- individual consideration
- intellectual stimulation

Answer 9

• walking the talk - modelling ethical behaviour and integrity
• conveying meaning, helping people see more is possible by providing a compelling vision for the future
• get to know people - recognize people are at their best when individual needs considered, whole person approach
• challenge people to think for themselves by asking
  thoughtful questions

Question 10

How to develop leadership?
- practise
- debrief

Answer 10

PRACTICE - need to ‘do’ it, and must
be challenging enough for folks to
stretch and grow
* Need to debrief and reflect on
practice
* Context specific
* Delivered over the long term

Question 11

Athlete Leadership ex: golden knights
“We needed 23 different leaders to be able to come together and build a
team… it [took] all of us.”

Answer 11

• Involving athletes in leadership contributes to individual and team success
  ⚬ improved leadership = improved
  outcomes, such as motivation, communication, cohesion, performance
• 85% of athletes polled in a study felt athletes should contribute leadership
• define athlete leadership
  as “an athlete occupying a formal or informal leadership role within a team who influences a group of team members to achieve a common goal

Question 12

athlete leadership cont’d
- identified 4 different roles for athlete leaders

Answer 12

1. task oriented - what needs to be done, distributing tasks
2. motivational - leads others and gets team going
3. social - makes sure team is getting along
4. external - face of team, sponsorships

• More athletes enacting leadership
  (“shared leadership” structure) = increased benefits to the team

Question 13

Debrief
- what does it ensure
-no right way

Answer 13

Diversity of roles ensures more
athletes can take on leadership in
some capacity

There is no one right way to lead but
rather, many approaches, a diverse
and shared structure allows for this.
Diverse approaches are a good thing