Group Process - Group Roles (COLE)

Initiator-Contributor (Group Task Role)

suggests new ideas, innovative solutions to problems, unique procedures, and new ways to organize

Information Seeker (Group Task Role)

asks for clarification of suggestions, focuses on facts

Opinion Seeker (Group Task Role)

seeks clarification of values and attitudes presented

Information Giver (Group Task Role)

Offers facts or generalizations “automatically”

Opinion Giver (Group Task Role)

states beliefs or opinions

Elaborator (Group Task Role)

spells out suggestions and gives examples

Coordinator (Group Task Role)

clarifies relationships among various ideas

Orienter (Group Task Role)

defines position of group with respect to its goals

Evaluator-Critic (Group Task Role)

subjects accomplishments of group to some standard of group functioning

Energizer (Group Task Role)

prods the group into action or decision

Procedural Technician (Group Task Role)

expedites group’s movement by doing things for the group, such as distributing materials, arranging seating

Recorder (Group Task Role)

writes down suggestions and group decisions, acts as the “group memory”

Encourager (Group Building and Maintenance Roles)

 praises, agrees with and accepts the contributions of others

Harmonizer (Group Building and Maintenance Roles)

Mediated the differences between other members

Compromiser (Group Building and Maintenance Roles)

modifies their own position in the interest of group harmony

Gatekeeper/Expediter (Group Building and Maintenance Roles)

keeps communication channels open by regulating its flow and facilitating participation of others

Standard Setter (Group Building and Maintenance Roles)

expresses ideal standards for the group to aspire to

Group Observer/Commentator (Group Building and Maintenance Roles)

comments on and interprets the process of the group

Follower (Group Building and Maintenance Roles)

passively accepts the ideas of others and goes along with the movement of the group

Aggressor (Individual Role)

deflates the status of others; expressed disapproval of the value, acts or feelings of others; attack the group or group task

Blocker (Individual Role)

tends to be negativistic or stubbornly resistant, opposing beyond reason or maintaining issues the group has rejected

Recognition Seeker (Individual Role)

calls attention to self through boasting, acting in unusual ways, or struggling to remain in the limelight

Self-Confessor (Individual Role)

uses group as an audience for expressing non-group-oriented feelings, insights or ideologies

Playboy (Individual Role)

displays lack of involvement through joking, cynicism or nonchalance

Dominator (Individual Role)

monopolizes group through manipulation, flattery, giving directions authoritatively, or interrupting the contribution of others

Help-Seeker (Individual Role)

looks for sympathy from the group through unreasonable insecurity, personal confusion or self deprecation

Special Interest Pleader (Individual Role)

cloaks their own biases in the stereotypes of social causes, such as the laborer, the housewife, the homeless, or the small businessperson