31401-04 and 05 – Interpersonal Dynamics
Spring 2024 - Carpenter
In Interpersonal Dynamics, you will embark on a learning journey different from any you are likely to have experienced before. The class uses the well-established T-Group (or training group) method as originally developed at the National Training Lab over 70 years ago. Participating in a T-Group is not like attending a class in statistical methods or finance. Here you will engage in a form of experiential learning or learning by doing. While each class will begin with a brief lecture and one or two short exercises, the primary learning takes place in the T-Group. T-Group is an interactive, small group with no set agenda. The group dynamic and interactions between members dictate the agenda. The T-Group is composed of 12 students, the instructor and a co-facilitator, and will comprise the majority of each class period. In addition, there will be small-group meetings outside of the regular class time, including an intensive weekend experience.
The focus of this course is on enhancing interpersonal communication skills to foster more effective relationships. This leadership learning laboratory offers ample opportunity to test out assumptions, determine if you are having the impact you intend, and to practice giving/receiving feedback in a productive way. In the process of becoming the most effective communicator you can be, the course calls you to engage in deep and sometimes uncomfortable self-exploration. You may experience strong emotions which you are encouraged to express. You may want to consider current life stressors and struggles when deciding when or whether to apply. The extended goals of this course are:
• To use interpersonal communication skills to build more open, effective, and rewarding relationships, even with people whom you may initially experience as difficult or who are different from you.
• To identify and pursue personal learning goals aimed at improving interpersonal communications.
• To learn how you are perceived by your colleagues and how you can shift in order to present yourself such that others’ perceptions more accurately reflect what you intend.
• To identify your emotions and how to utilize them as an important source of information and guide to your interpersonal choices.
• To navigate the emotions of others and learn how to be more aware of and sensitive to them.
• To identify the widely varied and equally valuable leadership roles that emerge in the life of a group.
Improving personal knowledge and abilities in these areas is crucial to becoming a more effective manager in today’s increasingly complex, diverse, international and exceedingly inter-dependent business climate.
Commitment
Because of the highly interactive nature of this course, it is essential that all students make a commitment to the course from the beginning and attend all sessions. Course shopping is actively discouraged. If you attend the first class and decide not to return, you have robbed another student of the opportunity to take the course, as we cannot backfill a spot after the first class meeting. Failure to attend the first class will result in an automatic drop.
Scheduling Details
Attendance at each 3-hour class, as well as at a residential weekend intensive retreat (off-site), is required. Attendance at this retreat, in its entirety, is mandatory and non-negotiable. Several meetings with a small group of fellow students outside of class will also be required throughout the quarter.
Enrollment in the course is by application
Apply online. The application period opens on Monday, January 22 at 9:00am. Applications are due by Sunday, January 28 at 11:59 pm. You will be notified of your enrollment status no later than Monday, February 5. The more sections you indicate you can commit to, the better your chances of landing a spot. But please do not include sections that you cannot completely commit to or that you would prefer not to attend. An invitation to a section is for that section only. There is no “section swapping” once you are offered a spot.
Format and Course Materials
The format of the class will include discussion, experiential exercises, small-group support meetings outside of class, short lectures, T-Group and the retreat weekend. There is one required text for this class (see "Materials"), and links to all other course readings will be included in the syllabus.
Autumn 2023 Information Session
An in-person information session for this class may be offered but has yet to be scheduled. In the meantime, please use this link to view a previous session:
View recording of Spring 2020 Info Session.
Autumn Section Specifics
Weekly class:
- Section 04: Wednesdays 8:30 am - 11:30 am. Class will meet for an extra half-hour until 12:00 pm on March 20 (Week 1), April 24 (Week 6) and May 15 (Week 9). All classes take place at Harper.
- Section 05: Wednesdays 1:30 am - 4:30 am. Class will meet for an extra half-hour until 5:00 pm on March 20 (Week 1), April 24 (Week 6) and May 15 (Week 9). All classes take place at Harper.
Weekend Intensive Retreat: This is a mandatory, off-site retreat. Transportation, meals and lodging are all provided. The Friday session begins at 6:30 pm (allow for travel time and dinner); Sunday session ends at 12:30 pm.
- Section 04: Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5.
- Section 05: Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12.
Small Group Meetings: Students will meet in small subgroups up to four times throughout the quarter. These meetings are to be scheduled at mutually agreeable times by the students.
