Effective Groups

• Informal relaxed atmosphere
• Much relevant discussion with a high degree of participation
• Group task or objective understood, and commitment to it obtained
• Members listen to each other
• Conflict is not avoided, but brought into the open and dealt with constructively
• Most decisions are reached by general consensus with a minimum of formal voting
• Ideas are expressed freely and openly
• The groups examines its own progress and behaviour
  
  

Ineffective Groups

• Bored or tense atmosphere
• Discussion dominated by one or two people and often irrelevant
• No clear common objective
• Members tend not to listen to each other
• Conflict is either avoided or is allowed to escalate into open warfare
• Simple majorities are seen as sufficient basis for group decisions, which the minority have to accept
• Personal feelings are kept hidden and criticism is embarrassing
• The group avoids any discussion about its own behaviour