This stage in Thompson’s theory improves health care workers knowledge and makes them more aware of the dependant variables. The health care worker needs to be very good at speaking and listening to receive all the correct information like whether or not they are allergic to anaesthetic or if they actually want to have it removed.
Good communication such as negotiation and helping people to make the right choices will help things run more smoothly, it will help the patient to feel more comfortable about the operation and will make it less likely for miscellaneous things to get in the way such as allergies and discomforts.
Bad communication such as dominating the conversation and putting pressure on people, can lead to more severe effects such as stress anxiety. Lack of communication or asking the wrong questions can lead to incorrect information being received or not at all. The reason why it is so important for the health care worker to gather all of the correct information is so that information doesn’t get missed or miss judged; if this does happen the surgeon could give the patient anaesthetics, and they may be allergic to it meaning they will go into anaphylactic shock. So instead of carrying out a simple operation you get a very complicated situation and could potentially get sued and it is all down to the communication that what Thompson talks about in this theory.
Strategy Vs spontaneity
This stage is very similar to the previous stage you have strategy that is based on business like people who insist on doing tings properly and following the rules by going by the ‘book’. This is very similar to control in the sense that because they are doing it by the book they are correct, if they get questioned by it they would have a very similar reaction to a controlling person that they would say well I have done it by the book there fore I must be right! Spontaneity, these people are generally more prepared to take a risk which is similar to the problem orientation approach because they have to really think between the lines in order for people to be happy and comfortable these people generally tend to be a lot nicer and friendlier than the strategy and control people.
For example, if you had just woken up from having an operation; and a nurse was there too great you and to see how you are feeling in the strategy approach the nurse would be stood beside the bed peering down at the patient. The spontaneity approach would be to sit on the end of the bed and comfort the patient and use sympathy/ empathy.
Bad effects for spontaneity is that you need to know how to problem solve very well because if you always react positively to things it isn’t always going to have the same outcome so you also need to be aware of the dependant variables. Bad effects of strategy include the constant desire to over power and look down on people. This makes people feel very uncomfortable and out of place and could potentially cause un-necessary stress and anxiety. So once again it is important to level your self on a scale knowing when it is appropriate or not is good communication.
Superiority Vs neutrality and empathy
This stage is basically about not judging a ‘book by its cover’, Thompson basically says don’t judge them by how they seen (what they are wearing ETC) judge them by who they are (get to know them before you judge them).
Empathy and neutrality focus on how people show concern and in-difference towards one another. A nurse showing empathy would learn people’s names and listen to what they have to say and attempts to understand the feelings, needs and interests. A neutral nurse wouldn’t learn names and would be relatively distant with the patients they would however understand and react to people’s feelings, needs and interests. A superior nurse or a nurse who feels of them selves as superior treats everyone differently because they do not consider them as equals. A superior person doesn’t ever find peoples contributions good enough, and doesn’t value there input and generally isn’t interested in feedback or what people have to say.
Positive effects of this stage is understanding when it is appropriate to be distant to people and who with and when it is appropriate to be empathetic and neutral. Referring once again to the continuum scale it also helps you to have an ideal understanding of were you should be on the scale and when it is appropriate to switch from one end to another.
Forming
This stage is about beginnings and first impressions; where you get to know everyone names this can be done by using a badge or playing name games which is effective communication used to help us remember things such as identity. In this stage it isn’t just about having a meeting with a group of people its more than that, send out an invitation (letter) inviting you to come, with a date time a place and any other additional information. This stage has a positive effect on care workers communication because it helps them to put them selves in other people’s shoes (empathy) and learn new interesting ways to communicate in awkward situations such as introductions.
This stage is effective because it makes people feel wanted and valued as though it actually makes a difference if there not there. By using the correct communication (listening negotiating smiling ETC) and planning things properly you make it more likely that the group will bond and they will feel more comfortable around each other. It is also effective because people are using communication and making it fun, in stead of going around and learning everyone’s names you could play a game making it easier and less confident people are going to feel more confident talking to people because they have already been introduced.
Negative effects include discomfort, it isn’t necessarily the group it is the situation in general, and people don’t know each other so they are going to be rightfully uncomfortable around them. Communication will be bad due to discomfort; there will be a lack of eye contact and low monotone voices/ volumes.
Storming
In this stage people are more comfortable with each other so there communication is stronger. You have a plan with what you are going to do with it and you get one person domination/ in charge of the rest of the group and the rest of the group listening. This stage is about getting things done so you need good negotiation skills listening and speaking skills. In this stage there is a strive to become on top or in charge people lean forwards in discussions in order to block out the people behind them to make themselves seen.
This stage is positive because you really learn how to speak confidently and debate things correctly. You also learn how to work as a team and pull your weight in order for things to get done.
Norming and Performing
In this stage the patient is going to start speaking there mind and will be doing one of two things firstly they could be telling you very sensitive information or they could be criticising and/ or insulting you; you need to be prepared for this. In this stage you need to be aware of Thompson’s control Vs problem orientation approach to communication. If they are criticising towards you, you need to be in control of the situation but to the extent where you back to the forming stage but enough to realise that you are here to help them and that they can trust you. If the patient is comfortable enough to tell you sensitive information you need to understand and carry out the problem solving approach; you can’t just take in the information you need to know what to do with it as well. If they are allergic to aspirin you need to make sure everyone is aware of this. This stage helps nurses to think about the communication they use, and to what extent it should be used two. It also enhances nurse’s desire and ability to listen and apply the information they have used correctly.
Adjourning
This stage is about endings, it is very similar to forming just in reverse order. This stage is about packing everything away and saying goodbyes. Some people rush this phase but it is just as important as the others or else they will miss important information, so this stage is mainly about listening and saying the correct words. Body language is also important in this stage; if you don’t get it right in this stage then people will misjudge you if your happy and smiley about leaving then people are going to think that happy to leave and wonder if they done something wrong in order to make you so happy to leave.
Good things about this stage is that you get to recognise just how much you have achieved, it is also good because it link is with Thompson’s final stage superiority vs. neutrality and empathy. You get the ones who are upset about leaving (empathetic) ten you get the ones who aren’t upset but may miss people (neutral) then you get the ones that are happy to leave without as much as saying goodbye (superiority).
This stage is negative because people are upset to go there communication becomes negative also. You get saddens expressed in body language people walking around slowly with there heads down and using bad eye contact and very low monotone voices.
Thompson sees communication as either end of a continuum from good to bad depending on the situation or the person. Tuckman doesn’t say good and bad communication but in is sections it is obvious what he means especially in the titles.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3tY6tBDsP4cC&pg=PA225&lpg=PA225&dq=superiority+and+neutrality+vs+empathy&source=web&ots=2cTxioUmSa&sig=FriGYt4jxEPM3bis_brJ7aSOTj4&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result