Decisions with Group Effort - Essay Example

Kelly Tomaska CEO Concerns March 5, 2006 Decisions with Group Effort Companies often struggle with bosses who are frustrated with their employees for not taking initiatives in a situation or following rules closely but never going "above and beyond" what is expected of them. The employee who is in charge of a staff gets frustrated, yells and wonders why his team isn't working together and cant step up to take on challenges. In this situation we have a CEO who is frustrated and delegates jobs to different people.

He wants them to step up their performance but what he lacks is the incentive for them to do so. Obviously keeping their job is incentive but more specifically social recognition for what they are working towards and achieving. This office is overcome by what is characterized as "groupthink" meaning that everyone just goes with the flow and doesn't stand up for their opinions or challenge anyone else. They conform and become almost mechanical in their day to day work. This office as previously stated is using group think which is unhealthy and leads to a lower level of productivity.

The term "group think" was coined by Irving Janis who felt that "each member of the group attempts to conform his or her opinions to what they believe to be the consensus of the group" (Wikipedia). These employees are not given clear direction; they are just told to come up with ideas and given a timeframe. They have no inspiration to be creative and tend to lean on others and agree much easier. The CEO of this company is also creating group polarization by exaggerating what is happening in the office and making it seem as if his employees are sitting in their chairs all day not being productive.

According to changing minds.org if a person makes a statement like the CEO has, "The problem then is that having taken a position you feel obliged to support it, even if you think it actually is a bit extreme" (Changingminds.org). This CEO needs to recognize he is dealing with a human who has feelings and want to be recognized for their achievements. Although he may not be happy with his employees he needs to change how he approaches them. Give them some ideas to feed off of and be supportive.

Check in with them at different points of the week rather than giving them deadlines. Support them and make them feel like they don't need to conform, that every suggestion is a positive one. Build teams rather than telling one person to do one task and another person a different task. Teams tend to work better at coming up with ideas and can collaborate. It would be beneficial to have the CEO sit in on some of these group meetings to see the progress being made and just listen rather than vent.

The CEO should initiate group discussions by saying "the problem is this.", and then following that statement by "what are some possibilities we can work on as a team to get through this to improve the situation" This encourages people to speak up and not be afraid that their ideas will be rejected or thrown out. A record should be made of this discussion to work forward from so that everyone is able to track the progress they are making as a team. Set goals for your team that they can achieve so that they feel they are working towards a goal, and then show them the positive outcomes that come from their hard work.

Be positive towards your workers and praise them, putting them down makes them feel worthless, like their efforts failed and they shouldn't contribute any longer. This company has an issue of group thinking and polarization from the CEO. If more strategies were used, the employees would be more willing to work harder and with better attitudes. Sources28 Feb, 2006. Groupthink Retrieved 5 March, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink28th October 2004. Leadership and Groups.

Retrieved 5 March, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.nigelsmithassociates.co.uk/leadership.htmThe need for: Conformity. Retrieved 5 March 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://changingminds.org/explanations/needs/conformity.htmGroup Polarization Phenomenon. Retrieved 5 March 5, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/group_polarization.htm