Speech: Group Member Roles

Harmonizer

Mediates differences between others and reconciles conflicts

Self-Centered Roles

Meets the needs of that individual while harming the tasks or maintenance dimension of the larger group.

Information Giver

Offers relevant facts and information, personal experiences, evidence and opinions

Gatekeeper

Opens channels of communication; brings in members who otherwise might not speak; sees that everyone has a fair chance to be heard

Supporter

Praises, agrees, indicates warmth and solidarity with others, or goes along with them

Energizer

Prods the group to greater activity or to a decision and warns the group to act while there is still time.

Initiator

Proposes new ideas, goals, procedures, methods, and solutions

Procedure Developer

Suggests how to tasks such as seating arrangements, handing out papers, and making copies

Tension Reliever

Tells jokes or brings out humor in a situation; reduces formality and status differences; relaxes others

Dominator

Tries to run the group by giving directions, interrupting and insisting oh his/her own way

Confessor

Uses the group as audience for personal mistakes and feelings irrelevant to the trash

Blocker

Constantly raises objections and insists that nothing can be done

Task Roles

Communication behaviors that help the group address the issue, solve any problems, and perform the task.

Group Maintenance Roles

Centered around team building establish and maintain positive cooperative relationships and group centered interaction

Special-Interest Pleader

Acts as the representative of one group to the detriment of the group process

Information Seeker

Asks for facts, opinions, or clarification from members when more information is needed

Class Clown

Avoids involvement in the task by making jokes and cynical comments

Recognition Seeker

Boasts, calls attention to self, seeks sympathy or pity

Clarifier

Elaborates on ideas by giving examples and by noting the relationships among them

Aggressor

Expresses disapproval, jokes at the expense of others, expresses ill will or envy

Orientor

Keeps the group focused on its goal and summarizes the direction of the discussion

Recorder

Keeps written record and serves as the groups memory