Managing Relationships: The Key to Effective Group Leadership by Dan R. Dick Effective group leadership is as much science as it is art. Although some people are born leaders, most of us need to work diligently to hone our skills and provide effective facilitation. One of the most important tools from the discipline of group dynamics is the science of sociometric differentiation. (A wonderful term that you can use to impress people with how intelligent you are!) Sociometric differentiation is the simple math of group process. It teaches that numbers matter and that relationships involve simple value equations. Leaders seeking to facilitate effective group processes need to know these two basic premises of sociometric differentiation: It is not the number of people in a group that matters, but the number of relationships within that group. Every interaction between two people is predicated upon one of four relationships at both a primary and secondary level. Below is a brief examination of these two principles. Size Matters — The Management of Relationships What is the ideal size for a small study group, a prayer group, a committee, or a work team? Although there is no one right answer, research into group dynamics indicates that optimal group size — in most cases — is between five to seven members. Every person in a small group works most effectively when he or she is in active relationship with every other group member. Effective group leaders attend to the relationships within the group and strive to build strong connections among group members. In a group of five people, there are fifteen potential distinct relationships. In a group of seven, the number of relationships jumps to twenty-eight. Group theorists contend that twenty-eight relationships is the maximum that most group leaders can manage at a given time; and once a group exceeds seven or eight members, participation of some or all group members diminishes. Generating Group Energy Whenever two people meet or exchange ideas, "energy" is generated at a primary and secondary level. If the two people involved have a basic liking for each other, the energy is +/+; if they dislike each other, the energy is -/-. When one has a positive feeling, and the other negative, the result is +/- or -/+. This is the primary level of interactive energy between two people. However, there is a secondary level. Two people who like and respect each other (+/+) can have a violent disagreement over a particular issue (-/-). In a group of five people, three may think an idea is wonderful, while two may think it is stupid. As a group leader, you have fifteen relationships to manage, each of which is generating its own unique energy. The two who disagree with the group agree with each other. Those who hold a positive feeling for the idea harbor a negative feeling toward those who disagree. The group members, who generally hold one another in high regard, are divided and at odds. Many times, the key to creating an effective group is simply to be aware of what is happening within the relationships of group members and to draw attention to the fundamental dynamic. Keeping the group size manageable and watching for shifts in energy (from positive to negative) among group participants holds great potential for improving your group's life together. For more detailed explanations about the principles of sociometric differentiation, see Group Dynamics (Third Edition) by Donelson R. Forsyth (Brooks/Cole-Wadsworth, 1999). Dan R. Dick (ddick@gbod.org) is the director of congregational planning and leader development for the General Board of Discipleship

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