Group Roles
GROUP BUILDING ROLES The Initiator suggests new or different ideas for discussion proposes new or different approaches to the group's process The Elaborator elaborates or builds on suggestions made by others gives relevant examples The Tester restates problem evaluates group's progress toward completing assignments looks for holes in the plan pulls together or reviews the discussion The Task-designer raises questions about member preferences for styles or working suggests the tasks that the group will need to accomplish its goals The Responder evaluates work with suggestions for changes
GROUP MAINTENANCE ROLES The Facilitator makes sure all group members have a chance to speak supports the contributions of others The Vibes-watcher focuses on the group's process mediates differences of opinion reconciles points of view calls for a break if discussion gets too warm The Time-keeper focuses on task completion maintains the forward progress of the meeting when necessary, shifts the group's work back to accomplishing its stated goals
GROUP BLOCKING ROLES The Aggressor deflates status of others in group disagrees with others aggressively criticizes others in group The Blocker stubbornly disagrees with a rejects others' views cites unrelated personal experiences returns to topics already solved The Withdrawer will not participate daydreams during group meetings carries on private conversation within group is a self-appointed taker of notes The Recognition Seeker tries to show his or her importance through boasting and excessive talking is overly conscious of his or her status The Topic Jumper continually changes the subject The Controller tries to take over the meeting tries to assert authority tries to manipulate the group The Lobbyist tries to get the group to work on his or her own special interests The Class Clown wastes the group's time by constantly showing off and telling funny stories acts with nonchalance or cynicism The Boor talks endlessly and irrelevantly about his or her own feelings or experiences The Devil's Advocate when he or she is more devil than advocate
Adapted from Linda Julian et. al. Strategies and Resources for Teaching Writing, 5th ed. Copyright © by Tami Sloane Thrasher Piedmont Community College Presented at the North Carolina Conference of English Instructors Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina October 29, 2001 Used by permission