Power and Decision-Making in Christian Faith Counseling

Power and Decision-Making in Christian Faith Counseling:

Group decision-making

Group decision-making has become an increasingly important part of organizational development. Group work promotes social bonding and encourages members to escape their comfort zones and to be exposed to new ideas. Making decisions as a group can provide an effective counterweight to focusing on a narrow range of personal interests or a single solution, which often happens when people make decisions in isolation. Groups are always testing ideas and testing their leadership as they grow and evolve.

The management theorist Bruce Tuckman proposed that there are four distinct stages of group development: forming, storming, norming, and performing (Forsyth 2014: 19-20). During the first stage of forming, the members of the group are still getting to know one another. "The individual's behavior is driven by a desire to be accepted by the others, and avoid controversy or conflict" (Four (five) stages of group development, 2014, Washington University: 1). Team members are conciliatory as they begin to 'test the waters.' The leader must find a way to ensure that the group accomplishes its task by encouraging ice-breaking activities and breaking down emotional barriers.

During the second stage of storming, roles begin to be established. The group enters into a conflicted stage where group norms must be set. This phase is very unstable. "The team addresses issues such as what problems they are really supposed to solve, how they will function independently and together and what leadership model they will accept. Team members open up to each other and confront each other's ideas and perspectives" (Four (five) stages of group development, 2014, Washington University: 1). Storming is a normal, natural, and healthy process but the leader must ensure that this stage is resolved in an effective fashion with minimal heartache. The leader must emphasize tolerance without letting personal conflicts get out of hand. "Supervisors of the team during this phase may be more accessible, but tend to remain directive in their guidance of decision-making and professional behavior. The team members will therefore resolve their differences and members will be able to participate with one another more comfortably" (Four (five) stages of group development, 2014, Washington University: 1).

During the third stage of norming "the team manages to have one goal and come to a mutual plan for the team at this stage" (Four (five) stages of group development, 2014, Washington University: 2). This may come at some 'cost' to certain team members, as they may have to give up their desire to lead the group or sacrifice certain positions that are no longer tenable. However, the critical difference of this stage is that the group can function more autonomously from the leader because members want the group to succeed, not just themselves. They understand the purpose of their team and their roles.