Transcript Small Group Communication

HUMAN COMMUNICATION
IN SOCIETY
BY JESS K. ALBERTS, THOMAS K.
NAKAYAMA AND JUDITH N. MARTIN
Prepared by Darrell G. Mullins
Salisbury University
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CHAPTER 9:
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
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Overview of Themes
 The Importance of Small Group
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Communication
What Is Small Group Communication?
Small Group Communication and the
Individual
Effective Small Group Communication
The Individual, Small Group Communication,
and Society
Ethics and Small Group Communication
Improving Your Small Group Communication
Skills
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The Importance of
Small Group Communication
Pixland/Jupiterimages
“Whether you love working in groups or
hate it, groups are everywhere.”
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Reasons to Study
Small Group Communication
 Inevitability of Groups
 Primary Groups
 Secondary Groups
 Enhanced College Performance
 Enhanced Career Success
 Enhanced Personal Life
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The Advantages and Disadvantages
of Working in Groups
 Advantages
 Higher Quality Decisions
 Stimulates Creativity
 Social Facilitation
 Promotes Critical Thinking
 Disadvantages
 Takes More Time
 Can Facilitate Dominators
 Teamwork Has Its Limits
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“You might think that a small group is
simply a collection of individuals, but
we (and most communication
scholars) have a more specific
definition for small groups.”
© moodboard/Corbis Royalty Free
What is small group communication?
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Small Group Communication
Defined
 Communication
 among a small number of people
 who share a common purpose
 who are connected to one another
 who have influence on one another
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Small Group Communication
and the Individual
“The quality of a group
depends on the contributions
of individual members, and
one reason for ineffective
groups is the poor
communication skills of
individual members. Lack of
communication among group
members can even be
disastrous.”
Tom Merton/OJO Images/Getty Images Royalty Free
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Small Group Communication
Task Roles
 Initiator-Contributor
 Orienter
 Information Seeker
 Evaluator-Critic
 Information Giver
 Energizer
 Opinion Giver
 Elaborator
 ProceduralTechnician
 Coordinator
 Recorder
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Small Group Communication
Relational Roles
 Encourager
 Harmonizer
 Compromiser
 Gatekeeper
 Expediter
 Standard Setter
 Group Observer
 Follower
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Small Group Communication
“Individual” Roles
Why is the word
individual in
quotation marks?
 Aggressor
 Blocker
 Recognition Seeker
 Self-Confessor
 Joker
 Dominator
 Help Seeker
 Special-Interest Pleader
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Theories of Leadership
 Trait Theory
 Functional Theory
 Style Theory
 Transformational Theory
 Servant Leadership Theory
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
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Effective Small
Group Communication
 Balancing Task/Relational Interaction
 Equal Participation
 Consensus Decision-Making Style
 Cooperative Conflict Style
 Respectful Communication Style
 Use the Problem-Solving Agenda
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Stages of the
Problem-Solving Agenda
 Define/Delineate the Problem
 Analyze the Problem
 Identify Alternative Solutions
 Evaluate Proposed Solutions
 Choose the Best Solution
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Small Group Decision Making
 Decision-Making Phases
 Orientation and Primary Tension
 Conflict and Secondary Tension
 Emergence
 Reinforcement
 The Disadvantages of Extreme Group
Cohesion-Groupthink
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Technology and
Group Communication
 How Technology Enhances Positive
Communication
 Types of Group-Oriented Technology
 Virtual Meetings
 Group Support Software
 GSS Technology
 Combinations
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The Individual, Small Group
Communication, and Society
“The world outside influences this form of communication
in two important respects: (1) the way power is used inside
and outside groups, and (2) the role cultural diversity
plays.”
©Bob Daemmrich/The Image Works
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The Impact of Societal Forces on
Group Communication
 Power Structures
 Members of dominant social groups may
dominate small groups in which they
function
 Use of legitimate and coercive power
 Cultural Diversity
 Innovation
 Performance
 Group Processes
 Group Enjoyment
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Ethics and Small
Group Communication
“While you should strive for accuracy and
honesty in your language, there may be times
when you should not say everything you know—
for example, when you should respect the
confidentiality of others, including group
members.”
Improving Your Small
Group Communication
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Some Guidelines
 Remember that individual actions have a
larger impact.
 Truth and honesty are critical.
 Know when to hold back.
 Use authentic communication.
 Listen to the speaker.
 Cultivate an interdependent attitude.
 Strive for cohesion.
 Work to build trust.
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