Roles: A role (also rôle or social role) is a set of connected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms as conceptualized by people in a social situation. It is an expected or free or continuously changing behavior and may have a given individual social status or social position. There are different roles that people acquire and they are supposed to meet the demands of those roles and also to act in ways congruent with those roles for example if somebody is playing the role of a father then he is suppose to act in ways according to his role. He when takes the role of a father, we would expect more mature behaviors from him rather than immature behaviors. In accordance with his role as a father he should have more authority and control over the family as he is responsible for their security and sustenance. Different people acquire different roles. Whenever in a group, different roles are appointed to different people. However to avoid role conflict it is better that the roles appointed to the people should be in accordance with their personality and values. An example of different roles being assigned to different people is that in our University a variety program was being organized as a result immediately different roles were assigned to different people based on their skills and talents for example some took the role of selling the tickets, some who were good in arts took the role of doing the stage decorations the others were assigned the role to maintain discipline. Everyday roles include the role of a mother, daughter, teacher, wife and one is suppose to meet the demands of all the roles. Role differentiation An increase in the number of roles in a group, accompanied by the gradual increase in the scope of these roles as each one becomes more specialized and narrowly defined. Example is that when the child enters in the University he takes up the role of a student however he then is appointed by the whole class to be the Class representative. Thus here his role has become more specialized from a student to a class representative. Similarly if he is appointed as a head of the debating team so her his role has further been specialized. Types of Roles Relationship Roles: Encourager The Encourager praises, agrees with, and accepts the contribution of the others. She/he indicates warmth and solidarity in her/his attitude towards other group members, offers commendation and praise and in various ways indicates understanding and acceptance of other points of view, ideas, and suggestions. An example of an Encourager would be a Manager giving encouraging comments to his subordinates so that the output of the work is definitely increased. He is more likely to use comments like “Well done everyone”. “That’s a great suggestion Ahmed”. We have accomplished a lot today. “Thank you everyone for making this possible” Gatekeeper The Gatekeeper is concerned primarily with team communication and participation. This member makes sure all team members are actively listening to each other and understanding each other's messages. The Gatekeeper invites quieter members to participate and makes sure that more active members don't dominate. Example: The best example to explain the role of a gatekeeper is of a teacher who ensures that every child in her class understand her instructions, is receptive to what she is saying, is able to express him/herself adequately and is able to eloquently verbalize what he/she has understood. Those who are under confident she encourages them and raises their confidence. For example she is more likely to use words like Jeff “Do you want to share something with the class”. “Thanks for your input Jeff” Harmonizing: The HARMONIZER mediates the differences between other members, attempts to reconcile disagreements, relieves tension in conflict situations through good hearted jokes, a soothing attitude, etc. An example would be a mother who is the central force in unifying the family together and if there is any dispute between her children she brings harmony between them. She tends to diffuse the situation by mediating conflicts and listening to each side of the story and resolving the problem. For example she is more likely to say “I want both of you siblings to hug each other.” Standard setting: The STANDARD SETTER expresses standards for the group. These standards apply to the quality of the group process, or set limits on acceptable individual behavior within the group. Example in the hospital environment the Head of the Department sets certain standards. These standards form an integral part of the standard operating procedure and any deflection from the rule can bring about serious consequence in the health care system. For example if a serious patient comes in the emergency the junior doctor has to inform his senior and if there is any violation then the head is more likely to say “We had set some standards before I hope I don’t have to remind them to you again.” Follower Accepts the idea offered by others and serves as an audience for the group. For example in the religious group the leader of the group sermonizes and preaches religious teachings. All the other member of the group follow his rules and follow whatever he says without questioning his integrity because he is at a position where his integrity cannot be questioned. Thus here all the other members are the followers, Group Observer: Points out to the positive and negative aspects of group dynamics and calls for change if necessary Example After the children are done with the exams the Principal calls a meeting to analyze the roles of the teachers and what grades their students have got. There is a lot of brain storming done and if the principle feels that there has to be a change in the curriculum or in the teaching style then that has to be implemented. So here the Principal has taken the role of a group observer. Task roles The INITIATOR suggests or proposes to the group new ideas. S/he offers a novel point of view concerning problems, procedures, goals, or solutions. For example in the TV show Glee, Will Schuester, who is the coach of the Glee club, suggests the team to do a funk number for their champion ship performance because the other team, the Vocal Adrenaline, has never performed a funk number and its one of their weakness. Due to this initiative done by him, the team won the championship. So he is the Initiator in the group. The INFORMATION SEEKER asks for clarification of suggestions made in terms of their factual adequacy, for authoritative and facts pertinent to the problem being discussed. For example in drama the Perception when Dr. Pierce suggests about the treatment of a girl suffering through PTSD, the agent of FBI seeks for information regarding the past traumatic event which is the reason for this disorder The OPINION SEEKER asks primarily for a clarification of values pertinent to what the group is undertaking or values involved in various suggestions that have been made. For example in drama the Perception, agent of FBI seeks opinion of Dr .Pierce about a patient of aphasia for using him as human lie detector. The INFORMATION GIVER offers facts or generalizations which are "authoritative" or relates his/her own experience pertinent to the group problem. For example in parliament there are advisors to the ministers who give them information about a particular subject to make policies. The OPINION GIVER states his/her belief pertinent to a suggestion made. The emphasis is on what s/he believes should be the group’s view of pertinent values, not primarily upon relevant facts or information. For example Sue Silvester, who was the coach of the Cheer leading team of the school in the TV show Glee, at time for running for mayor, starts an anti-glee club movement and states that glee club effects the studies of the students and moves them towards in moral activities. Although Will proves her to be wrong by stating the studies that have found that arts proves the creativity among the students. The ELABORATOR spells out suggestions in terms of examples or developed meanings, offers a rationale for suggestions previously made, and tries to deduce how an idea or suggestion would work out if adopted primarily upon relevant facts or information. For example in Harry Potter Professor McGonagall elaborated new rules and regulations to the children of Gliffendore which were made to overcome security threats from Voldemorte. The COORDINATOR shows or clarifies the relationships among various ideas and suggestions, tries to pull ideas and suggestions together or tries to coordinate the activities of various members of sub-groups. For example in Harry Potter the head of house Slytheren , Professor Snape was a coordinator between children and principal The EVALUTOR appraises the quality of the group`s methods, logics and results. For example in movie Harry Potter the principal of Hogwarts ` Dumbeldore` is the evaluator because he evaluates the performance of all houses at the end of the year and give them points. The ENERGIZER prods the group to action or decision, attempts to stimulate or arouse the group to "greater" or "higher quality" activity. For example during the campaigns of PTI, there were singers who kept on singing patriotic songs to boost up the moral of audience. The PROCEDURAL TECHNICIAN expedites group movement by doing things for the group, e.g. passing out materials or setting up chairs. For example during wars there is group of soldiers which are continuously supplying logistics to the soldiers fighting on the front foot. The RECORDER writes down suggestions, makes a record of group decisions, or writes down the product of discussion. The recorder fills the role of "group memory." For example in political parties there is a specific person who keeps the record of all the speeches of political leaders delivered on specific occasions.