Question

Tension was apparent as the management team discussed changes to promotion requirements. But then Colby made a joke about Jesse’s white-knuckled grip on his pen, and the laughter seemed to lighten the mood. Colby was acting in a ________ role.

Answer 1

Answer: Colby was acting in a maintenance role.

Explanation:

A maintenance role is a type of role that people play in groups in order to preserve the relationships in a group. This type of behavior builds up positive relationships in a team. In this case, Colby was acting as a harmonizer, trying to mediate tension through humor. Other methods of a maintenance role include encouraging, expressing group feelings, compromising, standard testing and gatekeeping.