Group Development Comparison

During my time in N250, it's been an amazing process learning group roles and what they do for a team. What I didn't expect was learning what role would be best for me based on my personality.

The personality test that placed me in the ESFJ category was fascinating. Everyone knows who they are but not everyone understands why they are who they are. I have been in situations where I have seen classifications of personalities with the four letter types, but I never understood it and frankly felt that it was all rubbish. Well I am happy to say that I was wrong, when we had the conversation in class about what each personality meant and if it pertained to our daily lives. When I explained my extroverted-ness until I get home where I become introverted-ness, I never felt more okay with who I was because I fit into a category where people such as Dick Clark and Barbara Walters.

The personality test where we are ranked percentage wise also made a lot of sense because it ranked me as a chairman and a team player. My parents both are chairman's at their respective jobs and are heavily supportive of the team player mentality that it only makes sense I would be in both categories. I think it's a bit more difficult to see who you are in this test though because they throw a lot at you from 25 questions I think it could be a lot less accurate. It still has relevance and can be used to better a group, but I don't think it is as effective as the previous one.

Of all the stages of group development I most agree with Tuckman's Stages Model. The idea that there are two aspects of a group being interpersonal relationships and task behaviors. In all of my time at IUPUI, I have found that to be the case. It is important that the conversations stay moving and each member remembers their role. In the end Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning is the structure that seems to work the most when I have been in a team that succeeds.

In my opinion, what it all comes down to is each member of the team to put in their best effort and make sacrifices if it means not doing what you ultimately want but getting the job done. In this class, I have a feeling by getting to know each other from these tests and theories, we will do a great job!