What’s Your Role in a Group or Team?

Every week, we find ourselves in some type of gathering with others. Sometimes it is a group meeting where we are discussing topics of both collective and individual concern. Often it is team of people working together to further the tasks of a church, organization, or service group. How can you, as an individual, positively impact the effectiveness of the conversation in either setting?

Adam Grant is a professor in organizational psychology at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He has shared these insights about group leadership.

The true leader in a group is rarely the person who talks the most. It’s usually the person who listens best.
Listening is more than hearing what’s said. It’s noticing and surfacing what isn’t said.
Inviting dissenting views and amplifying quiet voices are acts of leadership.

As I reviewed these observations, I realized that one does not have to be the designated leader of the group or team in order to practice these actions.

For example, the member who listens to others with a desire to understand what is being said, the impact of their participation, and the potential in ideas shared can help provide a safe space where those comments are recognized and valued. It may be a verbal comment such as, “Say more” or a non-verbal nod or smile.

A keen observer may note that that there seems to be some avoidance about specific topics, and take the risk of asking, “What are some other ways to look at this?”

A participant engaged in close observation can also raise questions of fellow members if they perceive a lack of participation or a concerned expression. If you note that one person has had little to say, you might say, “Bob, I wonder what you think about this?”

An effective designated leader welcomes this type of interaction. This takes some of the burden off the leader to propel the conversation forward and allows the leader to obtain more input from the group.

Next time you are in a meeting, think beyond what you personally contribute by talking and consider how to engage others in the conversation.

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