Group Dynamics
What's a group? A group is a collusion of people, a group of minds, a brigade of soldiers, a bunch of friends, and the list goes on. But what makes a group successful? What makes a group actually work?
Take a four member group. An outsider who frequently sees these four people together, would largely see them as an entity - together as one body. That is an extremely tentative statement. A four member group, is actually a combination of such:
A +
B +
C +
D +
AB +
AC +
AD +
BC +
BD +
ABC +
ABD +
ACD +
BCD +
ABCD +
X
= 1
Why? A group, however you make it, is a combination of the intertwining relationships between the small little groups that it consists in. Even the members of the group, when they are alone, are still members of the same group. It may seem simple to groups that are automatically in sync with each other, but it is really an equation of those relations added together. When a group of people come together, it is as if something magically bonded them together and propels them towards a singular goal. However, there is still that "X" factor within the group that makes for either differences or advancements in the relationships.
That "X" can be good, as in an addition of another member to the group, which brings along added prosperity. But, the "X" can also be a threat, in other words a negative element. When the negative element exists, it means that something is either lacking or there is too much of something. Either way, when the balance is shifted, it is a welcome sign for instability to insurge. In order to avoid from the instability, a group must have either:1. strong relations within each and everyone of the members, or 2. compensations for unavoidable defficiencies within the group. Am i making this too much like a sociology lecture? =)
In order for a group to work, you will inevitably have to work with the second measure that i stated before. Why? Because this world isn't perfect. Due to that, there will definitely be a weak bond within a group, and that bond is the most succeptible to attack or negative influence. A weak bond exists when there is something that disturbs one of the small sub-groups. This seemingly weak bond can be overcome by using countermeasure. Easier said than done, sometime people just get on your nerves, and you tend to never forget or forgive what they've done to you, right?
What i suggest is this:
Most of the time, personal problems will be transfer to the group in some way or the other. Meaning that when an individual has a problem, his or her problem will be transfered to the group in some form. It may cause a fight or a squabble within the group, or just make that person very odd and seemingly out of place at times. Just like a colony, except that each member is the queen or king, when one part is disturbed, the whole colony is affected. Firstly, when you have a problem yourself, solve it. Do this either by confiding within the group or just dealing with it yourself. Most of the time, you'll confide within the group and because of this, you'll have to make sure the group can handle the amount of needs that you require. Remember, nobody is perfect, some people just cannot give you the help you really need, and most people can't be supermen or superwomen who cater for your needs 100% of the time. So, if you really need extra help to solve your problem, make sure you get outside help. Always keep in mind that there are other people and not JUST your group in the entire universe. Also, when members of the group give advice or help out, please remember to be helpful, and not cynical and critical of your friend. For God's sake, that person is your friend not your enemy. Although the problem may seem like something small for you, to him or her it might be something big. Your role is to help, not to criticize or belittle.
When one element in the group is extra bad, there has to be another element within the same group that is equally extra good. This is to achieve the balance. For example: if there is a person that has particularly bad attitude, there has to be another member willing to calm that person down or be able to caution the person from doing so. If there's a devil, there has to be an angel as well. "Element" is not only restricted to one person, it can be the rest of the group or a few members of the group, or maybe an outside element that can provide aid. This goes for any problem that occurs. If there is a problem, there is definitely a cure - you just have to find it.
Nothing in the world is perfect, and no group in the world lives happily ever after.
With imperfection, comes required action, perseverence leads to satisfaction.
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