STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT NORMING : This is the third stage in the group development. At this stage, group members really start feeling that they belong to the group. They develop a very close intimacy and relationship with one another. A feeling of friendship develops among them. A well-developed sense of common purpose of the group emerges among the members. In this stage, group members agree on standards to guide the behavior in the group.

STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENTPERFORMING: When this stage reaches, the group is ready to tackle all types of group tasks. The members of the group work toward achievement of the group goals. The real work of the group gets accomplished at this stage. To arrive at this stage, groups should not take very long time.

STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT

ADJORNING : This is the last stage of the group development. At this stage, a group disbands after having accomplished its goals. However, ongoing work groups in organizations do not go through this stage rather they remain at the performing stage.

PRINCIPLES OF GROUP DYNAMICS The members of the group must have a strong sense of belonging to the group .The barrier between the leaders and to be led must be broken down. The more attraction a group is to its members, the greater influence it would exercise on its members.The grater the prestige of the group member in the eyes of the member in the eyes of the members, the greater influence he would exercise on the theme.

PRINCIPLES OF GROUP DYNAMICSThe successful efforts to change individuals sub parts of the group would result in making them confirm to the norms of the group. The pressures for change when strong can be established in the group by creating a shared perception by the members for the need for the change. Information relating to the need for change, plans for change and the consequence of the changes must be shared by the members of the group.

PRINCIPLES OF GROUP DYNAMICSThe changes in one part of the groups may produce stress in the other parts, which can be reduced only by eliminating the change or by bringing about readjustments in the related parts.

The groups arise and function owing to common motives.

The groups survive by pacing the members into functional hierarchy and facilitating the action towards the goal.

The intergroup relations, group organization, member participation is essential for effectiveness of a group.

EFFECTIVE TEAMS PARAMETERS

• The degree to which the objectives of the team are achieved;• The degree to which the team achieves the needs and well being of its members; and• The ability of the team to survive.

TEAM EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS1) Organizational and Team Environment : Organizational and team environmentrelates to the following elements:• Reward System • Communication• Systems • Physical Space• Organizational Environment• Organizational Structure, and • Organizational Leadership 

TEAM EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS

2) Team Design : It involves following elements:• Task Characteristics• Team Size; and• Team Composition

TEAM EFFECTIVENESS FACTORS

3) Team Processes : It includes:• Team Development• Team Norms• Team Roles; and• Team Cohesiveness

Effective group characteristics its members understand and share its goals and mission;

an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect is built;

the participants feel satisfied because they belong to the group;

communication is open and everybody is encouraged to take part in discussions and whenever possible in the process of decision-taking;

a sense of group pride exists;

Effective group characteristics there are few conflicts in the group and when one arises techniques are used for its constructive solution;

members are encouraged to cooperate with each other;

group decision taking and problem solving is common practice;

the group is learning to work together in a free, liberating way;

group recognition for good work is given freely to everybody.

PRINCIPLES OF A SUCCESSFUL GROUP WORK The group can work successfully if every member wants to work; Find time to discuss main approaches and ideas, to evaluate the work and to give feedback to the group; Everybody in the group bears responsibility for the things that happen; We act on the basis of common principles and values;

PRINCIPLES OF A SUCCESSFUL GROUP WORK I accept myself and the others; I am responsible for my actions and behavior; I believe in my abilities and support everybody's actions; I respect personal dignity and space; I am ready to take a risk, do something new, take a challenge; I accept mistakes as a chance for learning;

PRINCIPLES OF A SUCCESSFUL GROUP WORK Today's problems are tomorrow's solutions; Thinking is directed at the processes within the group: aims are important but the process is also important. The group develops by exploring its procedures and practices. I suggest procedures for analyzing of situations and problem-solving; 

PRINCIPLES OF A SUCCESSFUL GROUP WORK I take emotions as part of the work process; I look for balance between effectiveness and quality of interactions - the group will be successful and discussions will be useful if they are focused, involve the participant and develop civil competence; I am proud of the group achievements; Group work is also for fun, if it is not something is wrong.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

Group work is a natural process for undergoing personality changes. It represents the democratic nature of society, developing processes of cooperation, mutual dependence and assistance. The group is the natural social environment for learning and education.

Group work is for socialization and integration and more precisely, the main socializing model which reflects democratic culture of society and education.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

Group members are the key factor for its success. There are two main goals – individual growth of each participant and the development of the group as a whole. This means that the group we lead should have clearly formulated and understandable aims accepted by the participants and that in every moment of group development the participants should be clear about group actions, tasks, the state of the group as well as their own place and position in the group.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

It is important to evaluate and discuss individual actions and group development; this is the reason why group reflectivity is an essential.

Group work actually represents alternation between actions and reflections and this way the participant learn practical skills and develop their awareness when it comes to analyzing social reality and their own actions as part of it.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

Of utmost importance for group work is our attitude as leaders, our opinion about the participants, the nature of the group process, the aims of individual and group development. As in group work the participants and the leader are involved as whole personalities, as leaders we cannot isolate parts our personality like in the traditional process of lecture-education.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

The group is led by structured rules which impose on everybody (including the leaders) certain norms of behavior. The faster these rules are internalized, the better the group works. They are based on the basic human rights and represent forms of effective communication.

Group work provides the opportunity for creating an atmosphere of cooperation, stability and learning based on the strengths and abilities of the participants.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines There is not only one “correct way” of group work, everything depends to a great extend on our personality, the way we communicate, our knowledge in different areas, the environment where we perform our activities, on the time perspective as well as on the perspective of the participants.

By no means, leading factors in the group work process are positive attitude towards the participants, the acceptance of main principles of group work, following certain work rules; the atmosphere of cooperation, trust and mutual support; democratization of the relations within the group.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

The realization of effective group work involves taking a number of decisions every moment – in terms of work conditions, aims, participants and our personal role.

Leading group work is a conscious process of making choices in constantly situations – it requires good reflection, constant involvement and assessment, looking for feedback, self-education.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

Group work is a process of solving one problem after another. This means that a key skill of the leader is leading the group towards solving problems and knowing the process in detail. Group work teaches the participants to accept challenges as problem situations and to look for suitable ways for solving them within certain relations of cooperation and support as well as to feel interdependent.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

Group work is based on joined actions as well as on joined solutions.

Consensus decisions are built on a number of agreements reached on every step of the process of problem-solving. Joined decisions are a prerequisite for future actions.

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

Group work gives the chance to:• define problems which the group and the participants are facing, • as leaders to perform our diagnostic activity;• solve problems and make decisions;• improve communication and to increase the cooperation among participants;

Group Work – Trainer’s Guidelines

• increase the involvement of the participants, their responsibilities in connection with the taken decisions;

• solve occurring conflicts and reduce pressure;

• plan actions and set goals;

• share information and teach the group;

• improve the productivity and effectiveness of the group.