Page 216 - Essentials of Human Communication

Members in Small Group Communication 195

MeMber rOles
Group member roles fall into three general classes—group task roles, group building and
maintenance roles, and individual roles—a classification introduced in early research (Benne Watch the Video
& Sheats, 1948) and still widely used today (Lumsden & Lumsden, 1996; Beebe & Masterson, “Planning a Playground” at
MyCommunicationLab
2012). These roles are frequently served by leaders as well.

Group task roles Group task roles help the group focus on achieving its goals. Effective
group members serve several roles. Some people lock into a few specific roles, but this single
focus is usually counterproductive—it’s better for the roles to be spread more evenly among
the members and for the roles to be alternated frequently. Here are some examples of group
task roles.
● The information seeker or giver or the opinion seeker or giver asks for or gives facts or opin-
ions, seeks clarification of issues being discussed, and presents facts or opinions to group
members: “Sales for May were up 10 percent. Do we have the sales figures for June?”
● The initiator-contributor presents new ideas or new perspectives on old ideas, suggests
new goals, or proposes new procedures or organizational strategies: “We need to also
look at the amount of time visitors spend on our new site.”
● The elaborator gives examples and tries to work out possible solutions, trying to build on
what others have said: “That three-part division worked at ABC and should work here as well.”
● The evaluator-critic evaluates the group’s decisions, questions the logic or practicality of
the suggestions, and provides the group with both positive and negative feedback: “That’s
a great idea, but it sounds expensive.”
● The procedural technician or recorder takes care of various mechanical duties, such as dis-
tributing group materials and arranging the seating; writing down the group’s activities,
suggestions, and decisions; and/or serving as the group’s memory: “We have another
meeting scheduled to discuss just this issue, so perhaps we can skip it for today.”

Group building and Maintenance roles No group can be task oriented at all times.
Group members have varied interpersonal relationships, and these need to be nourished if
the group is to function effectively. Group members need to be satisfied if they are to be pro-
ductive. Group building and maintenance roles serve these relationship
needs. Here are some examples of these roles.
● The encourager or harmonizer provides members with positive
reinforcement through social approval or praise for their ideas and
mediates the various differences between group members: “Pat,
another great idea.”
● The compromiser tries to resolve conflict between his or her ideas
and those of others and offers compromises: “This looks like it
could work if each department cut back at least 10 percent.”
● The gatekeeper-expediter keeps the channels of communication
open by reinforcing the efforts of others: “Those were really good
ideas; we’re on a roll.”
● The standard setter proposes standards for the functions of the
group or for its solutions: “We need to be able to increase the num-
ber of visits by several thousand a day.”
● The follower goes along with members, passively accepts the ideas ViewPOInts
of others, and functions more as an audience than as an active
member: “If you all agree, that’s fine with me.” Group roles in Interpersonal relationships
Can you identify roles that you habitually or frequently
Individual roles Whereas group task and group building and serve in certain groups? Do you serve these roles in your
maintenance roles are productive and help the group achieve its goal, close interpersonal relationships as you do in your work-
place relationships?
individual roles involve behavior that is counterproductive. They hinder