1.5 - About University

10.5 D EALING WITH D ISTURBANCESIN W ORKGROUPS AND T EAMSContributed by Layton Fisher and inspired by a conversation with George F. Harding.Driven by increasing organizational complexity, leadership has come to mean group and teamleadership. Yet it remains baffling to many leaders just how much individuals’ behavior canchange when they interact in a group setting. Perhaps you remember being part of a meetingor group and working on a task when the group couldn’t seem to get focused: Some peoplewere bickering, others were goofing off, others were quiet and withdrawn, and still others wereplowing ahead, oblivious to the chaos or apathy around them. This tool will help you becomemore skilled in reading and managing group dynamics. It contains a powerful yet simple setof ideas designed to prevent problems, and to correct problems when they occur.In any workgroup or team setting, human disturbances take precedence over teamworkand the task of the group. In addition, these disturbances take precedence in a particular order:I, then We, and finally It.T HEThis means that if I am disturbed—tired, had an argument at home before coming to the office,need to go to the washroom, am unclear about the purpose of the meeting, etc.—my disturbancewill demand my attention. It will take precedence over giving my attention to We, thegroup. People will be distracted, thinking about what happened at home, looking at theirwatches and waiting for a break, or fumbling through their notes looking for the meetingnotice so they can remember why they are here! People’s energy and creativity, needed to producesuperior results, will not be present to the group, to the We, until their I disturbances havebeen resolved.T HE WEIf there is a disturbance in the We, the workgroup or team—the agenda is unclear, there’s confusionabout who is in charge, there’s leftover tension from a previous meeting, or unhealthycompetition between members, etc.—this disturbance will take precedence over the work—theIt. The We will demand people’s attention and prevent focus from being directed toward It, thetask (the purpose for coming together in the first place). People’s energy and creativity, neededto produce superior results, will not be present to the group until their We issues have beenresolved.ISECTION 10 TOOLS FOR LEADING TEAMS AND GROUPS 311