Avoidance
Avoidance is a conflict management style that is both uncooperative and unassertive. The member avoids contributing to an issue or avoids attending the meeting (Thomas & Kilmann, 2017). The method is useful in case an individual has no chance of winning, and when the problem is very costly. Avoidance has various impacts on the five stages of group development.
Avoidance conflict management style in the forming stage creates an unconducive environment for the group ambitions. Therefore, not all members get to know each other or making a good impression. Some members fail to attend the meeting to familiarize themselves with others, hence no professional interaction. Moreover, the group is not able to create a set of shared future expectations and guidelines. Whereas, another more united group can facilitate and discuss the ambitions of the group. The group is not able to establish team charter due absence of its members. A team avoidance activity creates distrust among the members. Additionally, members would not discover the strength and weaknesses of their members. Avoidance minimizes the establishment of expectations and preliminary boundaries. Team members would begin to perform their tasks independently without focusing on their relationship with other team members. The absentee members would not know the purpose of the team.
In the storming stage, avoidance ensures that no conflicts are resolved. The stage comprises group conflict and dysfunction. The step is the most challenging and crucial stage to overcome, and it is characterized by competition and conflict. Lack of members to participate in these stages results in the inferior decision-making process that would affect the objective of the group (Maltarich et al. 2018). Furthermore, artificial harmony replaces the decision-making process. When members work in a team, there is need to understand that conflict is productive. Failure to resolve a dispute at this stage would result in long term problems.
Avoidance in norming stage hinders resolving interpersonal differences and unity among the members. Lack of unity among the members impairs the group activities. The conflict is unresolved, and members divide each other in terms of personal interest. Additionally, there is no establishment of individual member’s roles; therefore, the disputes arise on who controls a particular section or to lead the team members. Avoidance affects the mode of communication within team members, and some may support the telephone while others e-mail. The members might not reach the consensus.
In the performing stage, avoidance of conflict management, there are time-consuming problems and poor communication. The absence of some members impairs the interdependent tasks (Lunenburg, 2015). Ineffective communication emerges among the team members. In case there was a certain threshold of its members to be present, avoidance of some members alters the daily activities. Thus, it may increase the duration of a specific project and would delay the objective of the team. Additionally, avoidance would reduce the rate of conflict among the members, and they conclude a common goal that would ensure the progress of the project.
Avoidance in the adjourning stage denies a member a privilege to interact and share some experience with fellow members. Some team members would face challenges while attending another meeting as they are not aware of what the stage entails and are not able to share personal contact with other members for future consultation.
Conclusion
Avoidance has several impacts on every five stages of group development. For instance, it creates an unconducive environment to discuss the objectives of the group. Additionally, it destabilizes the leadership and unity of the group and also affects the performance of the group.