Cohousing-L Mailing List: Examining our orientations to groups

[Andrea Schulz (schulza]

Secular cheer to all!

I'm forwarding this flyer from my job to the cohousing list, hoping it will be 
of interest to you all.  I took the test and found out I'm 100% individual 
focused--not sure if that bodes well for me moving into Oak Creek Commons, once 
it's built...

Anyhow, I was thinking the flyer may be a good screening tool for prospective 
members.  Or a process activity to identify where a cohousing community may 
need to provide retreats and workshops to develop more collaborative skills 
among its members.

Enjoy,
Andrea Schulz
Oak Creek Commons
Paso Robles, CA

TOWARD CULTURAL COMPETENCE
...BUILDING SERVICE EXCELLENCE.

Social Services Agency, County of Santa Clara
November 2001 Article

OUR ORIENTATION TO GROUPS:
Balancing Different Perspectives within a Team

>From "Diversity Works Article Service"

Some cultures, such as the traditional American culture, are individual 
focused. In these cultures, each person is seen as a separate entity.  Each 
person is responsible for their own behavior and makes choices based on 
personal needs, desires and preferences.

In cultures that are group focused, such as those in parts of Asia, Africa and 
Latin America, the group is seen as the basic unit.  Actions, decisions, and 
choices are based on conformity to group norms and attention to the good of the 
group rather than on any one person's desires.  

While culture plays a role, our orientations to groups are also influenced by 
our personalities, roles in our families, and life experiences.

WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SPECTRUM?
*To get a better idea of where you stand on the spectrum, take a look at the 
exercise on Side Two*

Are you oriented more towards collaboration and group accountability? 
or
Do you prefer individual freedom and responsibility?

Where are your strengths and weaknesses?
Where are your strengths the most useful?
Does anyone on your team have an orientation to groups that
Is different from yours?  Does their orientation balance yours?
What tasks in your team are group oriented and which are oriented to the 
individual?

At SSA, we each bring our own orientations into our work teams. Understanding 
and maintaining the balance between team members with differing orientations is 
important. It becomes especially important, where members of the same team have 
strong preferences for either individualism or collectivism.  The key is using 
each to its advantage and maintaining a balance between them.
This information is brought to you monthly as part of SSA's Cultural 
CompetencyToolKit Project.
The  Project's recommendations were made, and are supported, by an agency-wide 
group of cross-departmental staff and managers.
Article Questions or Contributions?  Contact DANA McQUARY, Office of Evaluation 
and Planning
408/441-5886, 441-5878 TTY, or mcquaryd [at] ssa.co.santa-clara.ca.us 

ARE YOU ORIENTED MORE TOWARDS the GROUP or the INDIVIDUAL?
Think of yourself at work as you respond to the following statements.
Check the response in each pair that is most true for you.

1. I am happiest when:
     _____ a. I am working on my own.
     _____ b.  I am working jointly with others.

2. When it comes to rewards:
_____ a. I don't want mine tied to the performance of others.
_____ b. I want mine to be for teamwork and joint accomplishment.

3. When things go wrong:
_____ a. I am willing to be held accountable for my mistakes.
_____ b. I expect the team to be held accountable for its mistakes.

4. I like: 
_____ a. To proceed with my own ideas.
_____ b.  The creativity that emerges when the group works together.

5. I see my work as:
_____ a.  Independent and separate from the team.
_____ b. Part of a bigger picture of the team's work.

6. Group work and joint decisions:
_____ a. Make me impatient.
_____ b. Are enjoyable for me.     

7. When working in a group:
_____ a. I feel held back.
_____ b. I feel comfortable and secure.

8. Being singled out for praise:
_____ a. Makes me feel positively acknowledged.
_____ b. Is embarrassing and uncomfortable for me.
 
9. Working as a group:
_____ a. Takes too much time.
_____ b. Is worth the investment in time.

10. I like it when co-workers give me:
_____ a. Freedom and independence to do things my own way.
_____ b. Support, nurturing, and guidance.

After you've answered the questions, add your total number of A and B 
responses.  
A RESPONSES indicate Individual Focus & B RESPONSES indicate Group Focus. 

**********
More A RESPONSES?  You may be more likely to prefer INDIVIDUAL choice & 
personal responsibility. More B RESPONSES? You might prefer GROUP 
collaboration, accountability, and productivity.

As always, the activity above isn't designed to give you all the answers. Use 
it as an opportunity to think, and ask questions about the situations you're 
encountering from the points of view of your diverse colleagues and the clients 
we all serve.

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