Life Cycle of Member Roles
Just as groups go through a life cycle when they form and eventually adjourn, so do the group members
fulfill different roles during this life cycle.
Life Cycle of Member Roles
1. Potential member Curiosity and interest
2. New member Joined the group but still an outsider, and unknown
3. Full member Knows the “rules” and is looked to for leadership
4. Divergent member Focuses on differences
5. Marginal member No longer involved
6. Ex-Member No longer considered a member
Suppose you are about to graduate from school and you are in the midst of an employment search. You’ve
gathered extensive information on a couple of local businesses and are aware that they will be
participating in the university job fair. You’ve explored their websites, talked to people currently
employed at each company, and learned what you can from the public information available. At this stage,
you are considered a potential member. You may have an electrical, chemical, or mechanical
engineering degree soon, but you are not a member of an engineering team.
You show up at the job fair in professional attire and completely prepared. The representatives of each
company are respectful, cordial, and give you contact information. One of them even calls a member of
the organization on the spot and arranges an interview for you next week. You are excited at the prospect
and want to learn more. You are still a potential member.
The interview goes well the following week. The day after the meeting, you receive a call for a follow-up
interview that leads to a committee interview. A few weeks later, the company calls you with a job offer.
