Group Formation Blog: The Leadership Legends : 2015

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Group Goals

In order to achieve success, goals must be set first. Goals are the building blocks on which accomplishments are derived from. There is definitely a difference between good and bad goals. According to Jeff Toister, good goals are goals that you are intrinsically motivated to achieve, that are focused on the end point rather than the minute details, and encourage team harmony, (Toister).

Whether you are working alone or in a group, you must set your goals before you start your project. When setting goals with a group there is a slightly different process that needs to be taken, but many of the steps are the same as if you were setting goals as an individual. According to both Emily Graham and Sarah Pavey, the goals that groups should strive for should be both realistic and specific. If the group sets goals that are too lofty and the goals cannot be executed in the time allotted, it would be foolish to set those goals at all. The group should work together to reach a set of goals that are fitting to the acronym SMART- S-specific, M-measurable, A-attainable, R-relevant, T-time bound (Pavey). If the group plans their goals with these things in mind, their goal will automatically be feasible. Another thing that both authors recommended in setting goals was to write them down on a piece of paper. In doing so, each member is reminded of what their goals are and what they need to do in order to achieve them (Graham). Our group followed all of these steps when we set our goals. We all spoke about goals for our group throughout the semester and decided upon which goals would work best with our group. As our group will only be together for one semester, we did take time into account with our goals.

Our goals revolved around the classroom and our grades. We all agreed that we wanted to do well in class, be prepared, learn as much as possible, and work together as a group. When looking back on our goals and seeing if they align with the acronym SMART, it is clear that our goals are solid. They are good goals because we made them specific and feasible. We didn’t set any goals that were too far fetched and we think that we can adhere to these goals for the rest of the semester.

Group Goals:

Doing well in the class.
Getting along well as a group.
Staying on top of our work and being prepared.
Getting the most out of our projects and learning as much as we can.

Graham, E. (n.d.). Set and Reach Group Goals - PTO Today. Retrieved September 14, 2015, from http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/313-set-and-reach-group-goals

Pavey, S. (n.d.). Golden Rules of Goal Setting: Five Rules to Set Yourself Up for Success. Retrieved September 14, 2015, from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_90.htm

Toister, J. (n.d.). Good goals vs. Bad Goals. Retrieved September 14, 2015, from http://www.toistersolutions.com/blog/2012/2/8/good-goals-vs-bad-goals.html

"Fears in a Hat" Exercise

Each member of the group wrote down a fear or fears that he or she had about working in groups in general, and specifically in this group. The fears that we came up with were:

Connecting with the group
Some members contributing more/less than other members
Not being able to find time to meet
Getting a bad grade

Some of these fears were expressed by just one individual and some were the combination of a few different fears more than one group member had. The first fear that was shared, that we would not be able to connect to each other, was very easy to find a solution to. We discussed how our team building activities had already helped us to connect, and that in the future we all want to be available to each other as friends as well as group members. The fear most commonly expressed was that some group members would end up having to do more work than other group members. We discussed how we can avoid this by divvying up the work ahead of time, being comfortable talking about the issue with the group if we feel this is happening, and starting big projects ahead of time so that everyone has the time in their schedule to put towards the project. This last suggestion that we discussed also went along with our concern about not being able to find time to meet. We hope to get a head start and plan group meetings as far in advance as possible. We discussed how the team building activities we did helped to connect us as a group and we realized that we all have similar goals, which will hopefully make us a cohesive group and help us to do well in the course. For our last fear, which was getting a bad grade on our projects, we decided that if we are able to implement all of these solutions to our other fears and are dedicated to our own learning, we should not worry about getting a bad grade. In part because if we are doing the best that we can, the grade is out of our control, and in part because we want to be more concerned with learning than a numerical grade.

Fourth Team Building Exercise: "The Life Highlights Game"

"The Life Highlights Game”

Activity Description: The leader of the activity tells the members of the group to close their eyes for one minute and think about the moments that they would consider the best moments of their lives. After giving them time to think, the person leading the activity then tells the group to pick the best thirty seconds of their life. The person leading the activity asks the group to pick the thirty seconds that they would most like to relive if their life was about to end. After each group member has picked their memory, they are asked to share this memory with the group.

Purpose: The idea of this exercise is to allow the group members to get to know each other on a deeper level. By hearing what was the best moment of someone’s life, you get more of a sense for who they are as a person, what they care about the most, and happiness means to them. The activity also helps the group members to feel more comfortable sharing more serious and personal thoughts with the group.

Results:

Eryn shared that her best memory, the one that she would most like to relive, was of her Senior Prom. She explained that she was very close with her class and it was one of the final moments that they shared together before graduation.

Danilo said that the memory he would most like to relive was of bungee jumping in Zambia, Africa, with his family. He said that the adrenaline rush that he felt was one of the most amazing experiences he has ever had, and that it is also a special memory to him because his family was there experiencing it with him.

Emily shared that the memory she would relive would be a moment during a family vacation in Cancun when she was a child. She said that she was in an infinity pool with her two brothers and she distinctly remembers trying to stack up one on top of another’s shoulders in the pool. She said that she remembers her parents taking pictures and that everyone was laughing and having a good time.

Karly, who lead the activity, also shared the memory that she would relive if she only had thirty seconds left to live. She said that she would go back to this summer, when her family and many of her close friends all went to listen to a cover band that was lead by a friend of the family. She said that she loved not only being with all of the people she cares about, but also singing and dancing and having a good time with them.

What we learned:
Emily’s Reaction: This activity was fun because it helped me have an internal reflection about what I value most in my life. When you think about only having 30 seconds to relive, it makes you think about all the important moments of your life and why they are important to you. I thought about a memory with my family that I will treasure forever, and seeing that Karly and Danilo both had memories that included their families helped me see that I share the same moral values as my team members. Seeing what the other members of our group choose helped me understanding the types of things that they find important in their lives. I felt a connection to Eryn’s memories as well because they were about her friends and a special experience that she shared with them. Obviously this is something I can relate to because friendship and the support system that they provide has always been important in my life.

Eryn's Reaction: I found this activity to be very relaxing. I really enjoyed looking back on the past moments of my life and trying to pinpoint a specific one that I would like to relive. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but in the end I knew that I would want to relive my senior prom again due to the fact that it was one of the very last nights I was with my graduating class and I just had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed listening to the memories of all the other group members because I could feel the nostalgia in their tones and see it on their faces as they described their memories. I could tell that they were feeling exactly what I was feeling when I had retrieved my memory- pure happiness. It was a very nice introspective experience and I found it easy to communicate my moment with the other members of the group.

Danilo's Reaction: I enjoyed this activity because it allowed me to go back to my favorite memories and for a brief moment to almost relive their emotional sensations. It was hard to definitively give an answer as to what my favorite or most memorable moment was, but I knew that it was an event involving others. I feel that through this exercise I was able to see what my team valued and how they valued them. It gave me a way to relate to my team members and understand what they appreciate.

Karly's Reaction: I really enjoyed this activity, I led the group in their reflections and was surprised by how hard it was for the group. During the activity each group member expressed how difficult it was to think of one memory, and I realized that I had the same difficulty. This activity helped me to get to know each group member the best because it helped me understand what is most important in their lives.

Group Reaction: As a group we learned more about one another, and many of us realized that we have more in common on a deeper level. Each person in the group shared an experience that had to do with being with people they cared about. This will help us to be successful as a team because we are now more in touch with each other’s lives and can communicate more effectively.

Chowdhury, R. (2009, September 2). 10 Quick and Easy Team Building Activities [Part 1]. Retrieved September 14, 2015, from https://www.huddle.com/blog/team-building-activities/

Third Team Building Exercise: "Plane Crash"

"Plane Crash"

Activity Description: For this team building exercise, the leader tells the other members of a group to imagine that their plane has crashed and that they can only take 12 items out of the plane (in this case the Boatwright Library) onto the island with them. All members of the group must talk with each other and come up with a collaborative list of the 12 items that they deem necessary for their survival, in order of importance.

Purpose: This group exercise allowed the members of the group to participate in a discussion and find the things that we thought would allow for the survival of the entire group on the island. Each member may have had his or her own ideas, but when the group came together, we were forced to work together to find the things that would be best for the survival of the group. This opened up a very nice round of dialogue amongst the group members in which we communicated our thoughts and strove toward the end result of the 12 items we all found would aid us on the deserted island.

Results:

Danilo’s lighter
Water bottle
Variety of books (including ones with survival information)
Scissors
Paper clips
String
Tables
Couches
Fire extinguisher
Water filter in the water fountain
Sweatshirts
Pens

What we learned:

Emily’s Reaction: This activity helped the group work as a team. We each had our own opinions about what we thought should be used as instruments of survival on a deserted island. We worked off of each other’s ideas to come up with a group list that we all agreed upon. I think the fact that we were able to come up with a list quickly and easily proves that our group is capable of workings as a team, making compromises, and sharing ideas.This makes me hopefully that the leadership legends will work well together for the rest of the semester.

Eryn’s Reaction: I think this showed that our group has a lot of potential and desires to do well. This will definitely be helpful in the future so that if issues ever do arise we can talk them out and work toward a solution. I think our group was fairly solid and I was very impressed with all the
work we put into this project.

Danilo's Reaction: The plane crash activity really illustrated the idea of working as a team for us, considering we had some differing opinions of what to bring. It showed how some of us had to take matters into our own hands and how to find a solution to the potential problem or task at hand. We worked together to build off of our ideas, and created a list that I believe to be solid to assure survival post crash.

Karly's Reaction: This exercise was the first one that moved away from getting to know each other and on to working together as a team. I found that we shared ideas very fluidly and everyone was very helpful and constructive in making our list. When someone had an idea that we did not like, we were able to share why we thought differently in a respectful way. Most of the time we all agreed on the items to put on our list and I felt like we were all very involved in the process.

Group Reaction: This exercise allowed our group to work together toward a common goal. We found that our group did very well and that we communicated nicely. No fights took place in the days that we met and we formed a cohesive unit that worked really nicely together. We had to fine-tune our list a couple of times but the end results were something that we all came up with. Everyone had an equal say and participated. This will help us be successful in the future as we have had practice working together to come up with a final product, in this case the list. In the future we will be able to jump right into our projects as we are comfortable sharing ideas with one another and respect each other's opinions.

Bonnie, E. (2015, April 20). Ultimate Guide to Team Building Activities That Don't Suck. Retrieved September 14, 2015, from https://www.wrike.com/blog/ultimate-guide-team-building-activities/

Second Team Building Exercise: "Similarities and Differences"

"Similarities and Differences"

Activity Description: Participants are challenged to learn two differences and two similarities between themselves and each member of the group.

Purpose: Participants learns new and interesting things about each other and connect with each other on a personal level. It shows the individuals in the group that they have similarities and differences with every member of the team. Personal connects fosters better group dynamic and allows the group as a whole to communicate better because they feel more comfortable with every member of the team.

Results:

What we learned:

Danilo's Reaction: It was fun to see how similar and different we all were, yet managed to work so well together. Moreover, it was a great exercise because it sparked the most conversation. In trying to find similarities and differences with each other we covered so many topics regarding who we are, that everyone managed to learn a lot about others.

Eryn's Reaction: In all honesty, this was my favorite exercise. It was the most time consuming, but it was also the exercise that allowed me to learn the most about the people in my group. We really got into it and had good discussions. I found out that I had a lot of similarities with the people in my group which was really nice. Overall I learned a lot about my group members and their likes and dislikes in a much faster way than I would have gotten to know the likes and dislikes of another person. In this case, it took around 20 minutes whereas with others it can take months to get all of this information out of another person. I found this to be a group exercise that is very beneficial to really meeting people and connecting to them.

Emily's Reaction: The activity help start up conversation both activities, experience, and things that we all had in common. We learned a lot shared values and also things that we disagreed on. The activity was successful because I feel as though we are now more comfortable around each other which means our group will be more comfortable discussing issues that arise. Also, now that we all know that we have things in common with each of our group members it will be easier for us to relate with one another on a personal level.

Karly's Reaction: This activity really helped to get us to know each other. This activity took the most time and we went through many different topics: extra-curricular activities, interest in sports, favorite Netflix show, and life experiences. In some cases we found it very difficult to find something different about ourselves, which was surprising. For example, Emily and I had to go over almost every aspect of our lives to find differences because so many of our surface interests were similar. I think that this helped us to be more comfortable talking to each other and knowing all about your group members can really help you work with them in the future.

Group Reaction: We all agreed that this activity helped us to get to know each other and made us more comfortable sharing ideas and experiences with the group. We are also closer on a personal level and are able to empathize with the thoughts and feelings of other group members. This will help us move forward as a group because in the future we will be less hesitant to share our ideas and concerns about group projects.

First Team Building Exercise: "Two Truths and a Lie"

"Two Truths and a Lie"

Activity Description: For this team building exercise, each member of the team must take a few minutes to write down two truths about themselves and a lie on a small piece of paper – make sure not to tell anyone what you wrote down. After this is done, allow for 10-15 minutes amongst the group members. During the conversation each member involved should ask questions regarding the other members three statements in an effort to get an idea of what is true and what is not. After the conversational period, the group should rejoin and each member is to repeat his/her three statements. Once this is done the team must vote together on each member and circle the statement they believe to be a lie.

Purpose: While the activity itself may seem as an ice breaker, it actually serves a rather useful purpose. Through this activity, each member is exposed to the rest of the team. In other words, one can see how others think, act, and in a way even get to learn a bit about their partners. All in all it promotes better communication in the office or workspace, and it allows each member to get to know the other on a personal level rather than simply a professional one.

Results: Lies are identified in bold lettering.

Eryn Mills

1. I picked up my friend after his girlfriend dumped him two hours away.

2. I have broken my leg twice.

3. I witnessed my friend fall off my bike and break her arm in the third grade.

Emily Kirsner

1. I had a pet parrot named Ibis who was eaten by a cat.

2. I lived in Paris for six months when I was three for my dad’s job.

3. I have been scuba diving in a shark tank.

Karly Horn

1. I was once bitten by a wolf-spider at summer camp and had to be taken to the emergency room.

2. My grandma lives in Florida and was bitten by a poisonous spider; she had to have her finger amputated.

3. A bee or a wasp has stung me on twenty-three separate occasions.

Danilo Dauhajre

1. I have played golf since the age of nine and am a three handicap today.

2. I had a pet fish named sushi in high school and swallowed him for twenty dollars.

3. I fell off the top bunk and knocked myself out on impact, twenty minutes later as I tried to shower, I got dizzy and fell. I ended up with a concussion and a fractured wrist.

What we learned:

Danilo's Reaction: I found this exercise to be an enjoyable and effective tool to get to know my three partners. Having never met them before this class, let alone worked with them on group projects, I believe that Two Truths and a Lie was a nice way to get to know them individually considering the conversational aspect of the activity. Furthermore, it was nice to see that none of us struggled to follow the rules or contribute, and more than anything used the time we had together productively. I genuinely thought that it was going to be fifteen to twenty minutes of awkward small talk, but our team had no problem avoiding my fear considering we were able to finish the activity on time and got to know each other quite well.

Emily’s Reaction: Firstly, I found that the two truths and a lie activity helped the entire team use their creativity in coming up with a lie that fit in with the other two truths. It was encouraging to see that every member of the group was able to come up with three convincing facts, making it difficult for the other members to determine which was the truth and which was the lie. Secondly, through the two parts that were true we were able to determine bits of information about all our group members that we either found interesting or that we shared in common. Each of the facts had a backstory, and learning more about our team members help us to bond.

Eryn's Reaction: I found this activity to be very funny and a quick way to get to know each other. It was very difficult to decipher which of the three statements was the lie because the others played it off so well. I really enjoyed how after it was discovered which of the statements was a lie the one member described each individual story because this allowed us to become closer. I found that each of the other members stories were really quirky and I found them very funny to listen to.

Karly's Reaction: This activity really helped us to get to know each other in a more light-hearted way. After each group member told their two truths and a lie, the rest of the group asked questions that allowed us to get to know some back story. I was happy to see that our group was getting along nicely and I think that this activity will help us as a group because we now know a little bit more about each other and how we communicate.

Group Reaction: As a team, we learned that all members have a sense of humor, but have no problem with communicating what they believe is best for our success. Through this activity as well as the others, we managed to agree on several key characteristics that we should try to embody, my favorite being the idea of always staying ahead and getting our work done in a timely and efficient manner. This game, if you will, allowed us to draw such conclusions because we got to know each other on a personal level, as well as on a professional work based level.

Chowdhury, R. (2009, September 2). 10 Quick and Easy Team Building Activities [Part 1]. Retrieved September 14, 2015, from https://www.huddle.com/blog/team-building-activities/

Monday, September 14, 2015

The Team At Work

Getting to know the group...

The five questions that we chose to get to know each other were:

1. Where are you from?

2. How many siblings do you have and how old are they?

3. Where is the one place you want to vacation before you die?

4. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

5. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?

Karly Horn
1. I was born and raised about thirty minutes north of Baltimore, Maryland.
2. I have a brother named Michael, he is 16 years old.
3. I would love to travel to Italy.I am hoping to study abroad there next fall.
4. My favorite ice cream flavor is Moose Tracks, which is vanilla ice cream, chocolate pieces and hot fudge.
5. If I had to eat one meal for the rest of my life I would eat mozzarella sticks and Panera mac and cheese.

Emily Kirsner
1. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida.
2. I have a younger brother named Matthew that is 16 years old and an older brother named William that just turned 21.
3. Before I die, I want to go to South Africa.
4. My favorite ice cream is chocolate fudge brownie from Ben and Jerry.
5. If I could only have one meal for the rest of my life I would have steak and mashed potatoes.

Danilo Dauhajre
1. I was born in Manhattan, but my family is originally from the Dominican Republic.
2. I have a younger brother named Miguel who is 18 in October, and a younger sister named Adelle who turns 13 in February.
3. Before I die, I would like to vacation in Thailand.
4. I’m a big fan of Americone Dream by Ben and Jerry’s, but if you want the key to my heart you just need to buy me Talenti Belgian Chocolate Gelato.

5. I know it sounds weird, but being a dual citizen of the Dominican Republic has made me love the national meal of chicken, rice and beans. So, that's all I really need.

Eryn Mills
1. I am born and raised from Middletown New Jersey.
2. I have three siblings: a 20 year old sister Maura, a 17 year old sister Tara, and a 14 year old brother Donny.
3. Before I die, I would like to go to Greece.
4. My favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip.
5. If I could eat one meal for the rest of my life it would be chicken fingers and french fries.