Developing Work Groups

for Community Health

Development
Prepared By: Alvin M. Hernandez BSN RM RN USRN
 Stages of Group
Development by Yalom
1. Orientation and dependency Stage
2. Conflict Stage
3. Cohesiveness Stage
4. Work group stage
5. Termination stage
They must determine a way of achieving their
primary tasks the purpose for which they joined the
group.
They must find a place for themselves in the group.
Group member’s behavioral patterns are basically
attempts at warding off anxiety.
The main concern of the members is whether they
are “in” or “out” of the group.
To handle anxiety, they invest most of their energy
in a search for approval, acceptance, respect or
domination

Stage of Orientation
Another common experience in the group is the
search for similarities.
Giving and seeking advice is another
characteristic of the early group.
Early group can be described as a groping,
testing, reluctant group.
The members expect the leader to provide the
group with structure and answers.
They look to the leader for approval and
acceptance.
Often times the leader needs to initiate the
opportunities so that members are encouraged
to respond to others in the group.
Leader or Facilitator

The arrows indicate

that the lines of
interaction are from
the leader to the
members. The
interaction among
the members are
rarely observed.
Lines of interaction with group
when leader centered
This stage is characterized by the group’s concern
over dominance, control and power.
Each members tries to establish his preferred
amount of initiative and power, and gradually a
control hierarchy within the group is established.
Members become judgmental of others.
Negative comments and inter-members criticism
become more frequent.
Members make suggestions or give advice.

Stage of conflict
The emergence of hostility toward the leader
is an inevitable occurrence in the life
sequence of the group.
The leader refuses to fill the traditional
authority role.
He does not lead in the ordinary manner.
He does not provide answer and solutions.
He urges the group to explore and to mobilize
its own resources.
To overcome the anxiety that the members
experience at this stage, counter-dependent
expressions (fight) begin to replace the over
dependency stage.
Cont….
The group may be divided into competing groups
each subgroup is unable to five up power.
Without proper intervention this may lead to a
group that moves rapidly toward extinction.
Moreover, drop out rate is high at this point
group members that are not committed to
attempt to handle and resolve their conflict by
leaving the group.
With necessary interventions employed, the
group can be helped to resolve the issue on
dependence and authority.
There is an increase of morale and mutual
trust as members feel group belongingness.
The chief concern of the group is with
intimacy and closeness.
Although members experience a greater
freedom to talk about themselves, there
may be communication restrictions of some
kind.
Often the group suppresses all expression
of negative feelings in order to maintain
harmonious atmosphere.

Stage of Cohesiveness
The uniqueness of the members and the
leaders are seen and expected.
Members can accept one another’s differences
without associating “good” and “bad” with the
differences.
Consensus is reached from a rational
discussion rather than from a compulsive
attempt at unanimity.
During the stage of advanced work group or
true teamwork, the tension is between “work”
or progress, and regression to an earlier
stage.

Work Group Stage

When a project or program has been accomplished
working together on specified “task” ends.
According to Dunphy the task of the group at this
stage may include:
 Finishing agenda.
 Establishing key decisions and completing the
group product.
 Tying up loose ends and writing off unfinished
business.
The key emotions are joy and sadness
The group celebrates for the work and
achievements done.

Termination Stage