Hi Jasper,
The group widget in the dashboard are actually the same with the one in your profile except group widget in your profile will allow other user to be able to see the group that you are joining.
The group widget in your dashboard is for you to manage your groups and other groups that you joined without having other user to be able to see the information.
Currently the only way to see all the group listings are through the groups menu in easysocial.
Hope you understand.