Cja/444 How Group Norms Affect Individual Behavior

How Group Norms Affect Individual Behaviour Name Institutional affiliation How Group Norms Affect Individual Behaviour Introduction Group norms are the unwritten rules that govern the behaviour of an employee within a team or an organization. They may include the dress code, language during meetings, level of respect for peers and time for breaks. These rules develop and strengthen over a long period of time. New members of the group have to comply with the norms or risk being alienated by his/her peers. However, the norms can have a constructive or destructive impact on the efficiency of employees and teams. Leaders must ensure that the norms only propagate positive behaviour while discouraging negative behaviour. Dealing with negative peer pressure Learn when and how to intervene Persuasion is normal and encouraged within a team. Members try to convince their peers why their opinion is superior. Over intervening while team members are defending their positions may create a feeling of micromanagement, which may result in resentment. However, when some employees are constantly pressuring others, the teams effectiveness may deteriorate. Therefore, the manager may intervene as a mediator or moderator. A moderator ensures that the members abide by the rules of the team meetings