Community Task Group On Thursday I attend Refugee Round table at the iACT office in Austin for a quarterly meeting among groups and organizations who predominantly serve refugee needs in the community. The groups in attendance were: iACT (Interfaith Action of Central Texas), Refugee Health Clinic, SARA (Syrian American Refugee Aide), Caritas, AISD (Austin Independent School District, RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services), CST (Center for Survivors of Torture), Refugee Services of Texas, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Together, the groups met to discuss new developments from each organization, concerns and plans for future outreach tactics. Much of the group’s dynamic observed was very democratic
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The mediator was very good at prompting discussion when it needed to happen and effortlessly refocused the members to the larger points of the conversation. Such skills demonstrated that there was a great balance of control between the group participants and the leader, thus contributing to the task group’s effectiveness (Fernandez, 1997). Control was evident when the group experienced brief conflict among its member when discussing the best plan of action to address the refugee housing situation. Talking points which caused heated discussions at the meeting, were worked through and improving the plan of action and leading to all the organizations to resolve the matter. Resolving conflicted allowed them to come together and form a unified plan in which all member of the group were satisfied. None of this compromise or discussion could have been facilitated without strong, but good communication skills from everyone. Evidence of effectiveness was demonstrated through the open communication practiced during the meeting, the support shown by both the group’s members and leader, and the lack of conflict among members (Gladstein, 1984). Such group effectiveness yields to decisions being made in an orderly fashion by its
The mediator was very good at prompting discussion when it needed to happen and effortlessly refocused the members to the larger points of the conversation. Such skills demonstrated that there was a great balance of control between the group participants and the leader, thus contributing to the task group’s effectiveness (Fernandez, 1997). Control was evident when the group experienced brief conflict among its member when discussing the best plan of action to address the refugee housing situation. Talking points which caused heated discussions at the meeting, were worked through and improving the plan of action and leading to all the organizations to resolve the matter. Resolving conflicted allowed them to come together and form a unified plan in which all member of the group were satisfied. None of this compromise or discussion could have been facilitated without strong, but good communication skills from everyone. Evidence of effectiveness was demonstrated through the open communication practiced during the meeting, the support shown by both the group’s members and leader, and the lack of conflict among members (Gladstein, 1984). Such group effectiveness yields to decisions being made in an orderly fashion by its