Members form groups with defined objectives. The objectives make the members focus on achieving them by implementing strategies. Some groups develop a mission statement and goals that offer guidelines. Although groups focus on the objectives at the beginning, few often manage to accomplish the mission due to the emerging differences among members. Such incidents sabotage the group’s activities and objectives. Group dynamic comes into play that pushes and pulls members apart. Under such circumstances, finding ways of solving emerging issues becomes the priority. Depending on the magnitude of the challenge and the members involved, it may break the group apart as members take sides and hard stands, which is unhealthy.
I have observed a vibrant group having difficulties functioning because of leadership issues. Leadership wrangling and incompetence makes the group goes down as members struggle to solve the emerging differences. Initially, the group was performing and had strong leadership that steered it to accomplish its goals and objectives. However, the group changed, members began scrambling for leadership positions, and those in charge of different responsibilities became incompetent and unable to deliver. Insubordination was common, leading to the demoralization of some members. Although such cases are common and unavoidable in a group with diverse members, timely managing the situation is paramount to preventing the escalation. Leadership is crucial for the survival of any group because that is the center of power where decisions are made, and executions are done. Despite these leadership wrangles and cases of incompetence, the group has many members, which are its strengths. Besides, the group has enough resources and policies or constitutions that define the conduct of everyone and the existing relationships and limitations.
Despite the group’s leadership challenges, taking appropriate actions can help find a solution that leads to stabilization. From the conduct of the members and poor leadership witnessed in the group, taking appropriate measures that relate to improving interpersonal behavior can solve the issues. Poor relations among the members escalate the situation and lead to conflict where some members insubordinate the leadership. A group cannot work when members conflict, and they do nothing to solve it. Improving interpersonal behavior among members is a strategy that groups must adopt to manage arising issues.
One of the ways of improving interpersonal behavior is controlling emotions. Group members’ emotions usually heighten whenever there is a disagreement, which worsens situations. Some people become over-emotional because of their inability to control their feelings. Finding ways of controlling emotions will help improve interpersonal behavior, eventually reducing disagreements among group members and other individuals (Patricia, 2015). Secondly, group members should practice empathy in all their undertakings. Empathy allows members to have a full view of things around them and wear the shoe of their colleagues (Patricia, 2015). Understanding the plight of others helps find a solution by minimizing incidences of conflicts that might erupt between group members.
Besides, this group is ineffective because of leadership struggle, insubordination, and incompetence. One of the ways to make the group effective is to manage the conflict. A group cannot function if members conflict. The first step is to manage the conflict by identifying the points of agreement and disagreement and discussing them to find a solution. Harmonizing the differences among the members through conflict resolution mechanisms is ideal for getting into the root causes of the leadership challenges affecting the groups. Secondly, members must remind themselves about the organizational mission and goals. Members might engage in other activities because they no longer identify with the goals and mission of the group. The group’s goals and mission should be the uniting interest of members of the group and not any other matter. Thirdly, it is paramount for the group members and their leadership to reconsider updating the group rules of bylaws to capture the emerging developments and spell out actions to take. Group leadership deserves the utmost respect, and any incidence of insubordination must be condemned. Members must be encouraged to use the appropriate dispute resolution channels per the group’s rules to avert incidences that might tear it apart.
However, indiscipline members must undergo a disciplinary procedure if the group rules and regulations allow it. It is because group members must abide by the rules and values that guide the group. An indiscipline incident that goes unpunished always escalates and destroys the group. Thus, acting within the set parameters of the group rules can help overcome the leadership issues, and incompetence witnessed in the group.
In conclusion, group members are prone to disagreements when they lose touch with the goals. Leadership wrangles in a group lower the commitment of members. In cases of a leadership challenge, confronting the problem becomes the solution. Finding an amicable way of solving the challenge as a group is ideal. Besides, members can manage their interpersonal relations through empathy and high emotional intelligence. Embracing each group member is ideal for enhancing understanding that eventually eliminates conflicts.
References
Patricia, O. (2015). Improving interpersonal relationships in the workplace. Journal of Research & Method in Education, 5(6), 115-125
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