So, what’s the tipping-point?
When does a team become a group? How does the psychology change, and what influence does this have on individual behaviours? How do we guard against ‘groupthink’ when the drive towards uniformity is ingrained in us?
At Belbin, we draw some important distinctions between teams and groups.
A team is small (ideally four people), diverse, and tolerant of differences.
A group is larger, more prone to conformity, and susceptible to hierarchical pressures.
True teams allow for rotating leadership, mutual understanding, and meaningful dialogue. Groups, by contrast, often drift towards conformity and "us versus them" thinking.