While working in a group, we all come to notice that some members don’t work but claim (claimer), others work and remain silent (performer), some work and beat drum (exhibitors) while a few neither work nor care (aloof). In loosely knitted groups, most of the members generally avoid responsibilities and feel that someone else is better suited to handle it. Known as Diffusion of Responsibilities in socio-psychological terms, this aspect of behaviour of members in group results into disastrous failure. Shockingly, no one is responsible for that failure too.

Among others, lack of identity, difference in age and sex, education difference, attitudinal difference and lack of systematically shared responsibilities are main reasons for such behaviour of members in any group.

Those members who don’t work but claim that the work is done by them are always amongst the sharpest ones. For any given task, they feel that it does not belong to them. Therefore, they put forward two dozens of arguments to avoid that work but do not like to perform. While discussing shared work, they always show off to be overburdened. It is simply difficult to deal with them. Therefore, those who actually work, performers, do not get into tussle with such claimers but prefer to keep working on their own. And such performers bring whatever possible success to the group.

However, those who neither work nor care are still manageable. Given straight directions, they would finish the task. They don’t bother to avoid work but just don’t initiate them. While such aloof members are not against work, their lack of attachment keeps them away from best of their performance.

Drum beaters are the main exhibitors who want to show their capabilities during the task. But as their aim is more on personal success than that of the group, they do not share cordial working responsibilities with others. Attempt to overdo others and remain forerunner brings limitation in the cohesiveness of the group. However, their work is still valuable.

This happens mainly in groups of unequal people with different rank and responsibilities. Group of members who are unknown to each other tend to face this problem severely. They are gathered to perform a specific task or event without any further implication on their position or career. It makes the sense of responsibility weak.

To avoid such situation where claimers outshine performers and drum beaters discourage aloof members, it is essential that a leader is identified who decides and divides responsibilities in appropriate manner. Regular and frequent review meeting with all members of group also helps fix responsibility and evaluate performance. Those claimers won’t be able to take credit of others’ work again and again as the actual performer would point out the reality. Aloof people can also be bridged in by such interaction and drum beaters remain happy and encouraged as they get a chance to show their work.

In absence of such group interaction, the result is bound to be less than success. It would also bring disappointment to performers, encouragement to claimers and aloof will remain always aloof. To utilise capability of each and every member, such loosely knitted groups must meet regularly and discuss the work done, work to be done as also the method and outcome of such work. Otherwise, no would is responsible for failure, though success would be claimed by all.