Impact of Individual Behavior on Group Dynamic
From Clint:
- Situation:
Everyone had been posting great responses to the first three questions
that I had asked, and I felt each response would really contribute to everyone
feeling invested in this research, connected with each other, and more
excited to participate. Then Minjuan posted a very short entry, describing
how many blogs she had and that she would only post short entries, but
that she looked forward to reading everyone else’s, and did not answer the
questions. - Expectations:
I expected that she would at least answer the questions. I expected from
the previous emails that I had sent and confirmations received that
everyone who was still a part of the team had committed to participating
as a full participant and not only as a spectator. - Interpretation:
My interpretation from her post was that it made it seem like perhaps she
was too busy to participate fully. I had a similar concern about the two
participants that had not posted at all yet. I was worried that if any
of the participants treated this group like a thing that was very low on their
list of priorities that it would decrease the overall group dynamic and
trust level. - Response:
I emailed her and told her that I would love for her to be a part of the
team (which is very true), but expressed concern that perhaps she would be
too busy – and that it might not be good timing. I restated what was
expected of each team member and gave her the option to back out if she
needed to. As a result she sent me an email back saying that she really
did want to participate, that she simply did not see the questions, and
said that she would post the next day her answers, which she did. - Questions:
To Minjuan – did anything about the way I approached the situation
seem strange to you or strike you as different from what you would have
expected or liked? If so, what and why?
To Adele – When you had not posted, I emailed you with a similar
question, if you were too busy to participate – because I was concerned about
group momentum from the very beginning. Did anything about the way I approached
the situation seem strange to you or strike you as different from what you
would have expected or liked? If so, what and why?
To the group – Did my interpretation (#3) reflect how you also
might have felt about the situation (with some group momentum and dynamic potentially
decreasing if one participant seemed too busy to care enough to post the
initial questions)?
How might you have either
interpreted or handled the situation differently (#3 or #4)?
From Minjuan:
strange, but it was more formal than what I expected. We have been
chatting by email in the past few weeks, but mostly about life, living,
and other fun topics. This is the first time he expressed concerns
about my professional performance. And I felt a little embarrassed
about not posting responses to the first questions on time.
Also, I am on board without paying close attention to what will be
expected. I thought this group was just put together to chat and to
share what is going on in one's lives. And I thought each of us is
going to get another blog. These misunderstanding triggered me to write
that entry about how busy I am. After Clint's email, I know this team
is more structured and there are tasks I need to complete. I followed
his suggestion to review the team goals and my personal goals, and
decided to set aside time to participate.
From Javier:
I do not agree exactly with Temtim's claims. Not only Clint is dealing with
a lot of effort to create and maintain the group's momentum but the
rest of us are participating according to our current needs plus we are
little by little adjusting our responses to the subject's needs. I
think the beggining so far is really promising, compared with other
experiences I had. Update: I read afterwards that Temtim has already said "Because we all live in different places, we all have different
commitments that reduces our energy but we all have to do what we can
do."
From Temtim
Well, I personally feel that I don't contribute much. I think 4 to 8 hours per week is not sufficient if we want to contribute something meaningful to the team and achieve our expected goals. We have to read many articles, contribute new articles. In this regard, I don't have sufficient time and I didnot do to my expectation. Of course we all may not have the same interpreation, that depends on our background, environment, educaion level and so on.
To respond to Javier response, he claims that he is doing fine with the team. that is his interpretation and we accept it as correct. From my interpretation, Javiers or others contribution so far is not sound enough to achieve the goals we put at the beginning. I believe in team work. That is normal, all team members could not contribute the same share. And it is our group effort that makes Clint energetic. Without the group, Clint alone would not contribute what he did so far.
I think that Clint's initial
I think that Clint's initial interpretation was adequate considering the previous explanatory emails and the starting date of the project. I also completely understand Minjuan's answer in the sense that I tend to easily overextend myself when interesting projects cross my path. So this reflection wiki is actually a good reminder for myself and my numerous commitments.
I feel that Clint handled the situation very respectfully and diplomatically. I honestly do not know how I would have handle it...I currently feel too much like a "lower" student dealing with quite bright "higher" faculty to comfortably switch place (how's that for culturally-influenced hierarchy. unfortunately true right now) and make such a judgment call.
Finally, I can relate to Clint in terms of organizer of an event. His prompt follow-up to individual behaviors' possible impact to the group was most likely the reason why the group is still going strong. I am comparing this to my current issue with my doctoral student council in education 3rd annual graduate research symposium. No one is submitting a presentation. I might have to cancel the event.
Virtual Team Collaboration
Situation
I don't know the status of others. I feel that we are still on formulation of ideas, hypothesis for our research team. I think it is a new way of doing things from what I was trained to do.
Expectation
I am expecting that at this time we all have clear objective on our research agenda and start some actual work on the project.
Interpretation
I see only Clint working hard in the group. I feel that the others are also somehow confused like me and they contribute little so far.