Transcript Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Communicating in Groups
and Teams
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Copyright © 2003
Why form groups
and teams?
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Better decisions
Faster response
Increased productivity
Greater “buy-in”
Less resistance to change
Improved employee morale
Reduced risks
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 2
Four Phases of Team
Development
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 3
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 4
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 5
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Storming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 6
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Storming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 7
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 8
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 9
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Performing
Ch. 2, Slide 10
Four Phases of Team
Development
Forming
Storming
Norming
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Performing
Ch. 2, Slide 11
Characteristics of
Successful Teams
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Small size, diverse makeup
Agreement on purpose
Agreement on procedures
Ability to deal with conflict
Use of good communication
techniques
• Ability to collaborate rather than
compete
• Shared leadership
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 12
Roles Played by Team
Members
Task Roles
• Initiator
• Information seeker/giver
• Opinion seeker/giver
• Direction giver
• Summarizer
• Energizer
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 13
Roles Played by Team
Members
• Gatekeeper
• Reality tester
What kinds of statements might be made by
these role players?
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 14
Roles Played by Team
Members
Relationship Roles
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Participation encourager
Harmonizer/tension reliever
Evaluator of emotional climate
Praise giver
Empathic listener
What kinds of statements might be made
by these role players?
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 15
Roles Played by Team
Members
Dysfunctional Roles
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Blocker
Attacker
Recognition-seeker
Joker
Withdrawer
What kinds of statements might be made
by these role players?
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 16
Skills for Team Leaders
Task Relationships
• Goal setting
• Agenda making
• Clarifying
• Summarizing
• Verbalizing consensus
• Establishing work patterns
• Following procedures
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 17
Skills for Team Leaders
Interpersonal Relationships
• Regulating participation
• Maintaining positive climate
• Maintaining mutual respect
• Instigating group self-analysis
• Resolving conflict
• Instigating conflict
Based on Cragan and Wright, Communication in Small Groups, 5e,
Wadsworth, 1999.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 18
Methods for Reaching
Group Decisions
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Majority
Consensus
Minority
Averaging
Authority rule with discussion
What are the advantages and disadvantages
of each method?
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 19
Strategies for Effective
Conflict Resolution
1. When attacked, negotiate rather
than escalate.
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Separate the issue from the person.
Act as if the other side does not want to harm you
personally.
2. Use the third person.
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Avoid “you” and “I” statements.
Not: You never come prepared, and I’m sick of it.
But: It’s hard to discuss this without all the facts.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 20
Strategies for Effective
Conflict Resolution
3. Work to maintain a calm tone of
voice.
• Stay away from provocative verbal emphasis.
Not: It’s HARD to discuss this without ALL the facts.
4. Practice compassionate, helpful
feedback.
• Focus on behaviors, not attitudes.
• Talk about things that can be changed.
Not: Stop being aggressive!
But: It would be easier to respond if you lowered your
voice.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 21
Strategies for Effective
Conflict Resolution
5. Avoid sending threatening signals.
• Don’t engage in sustained eye contact.
• Keep hand gestures to a minimum.
6. Don’t use “First Strike” language.
You always . . . or If you really . . . or Try to
understand . . .
7. When provoked, try a listening
check.
Calmly and respectfully restate both sides of the
argument.
Take time to walk around the topic–and cool off.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 22
Strategies for Effective
Conflict Resolution
8. Clear the air.
• If you’re on a team with someone who seems
consistently irritated with you, ask for a private
meeting.
• Solicit feedback; listen without interrupting and
with an open mind.
• Request permission to respond with equal
openness.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 23
Planning and Participating
in Meetings
Before the meeting
• Consider alternatives. Is a meeting
necessary?
• Invite the right people. Include . . .
those who have information.
those who can make decisions.
those who must implement decisions.
• Distribute an agenda.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 24
Planning and Participating
in Meetings
During the Meeting
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Start on time and introduce the agenda.
Appoint a secretary and a recorder.
Encourage balanced participation.
Confront conflict frankly.
Summarize points of consensus along
the way.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 25
Planning and Participating
in Meetings
Ending the Meeting and Following Up
• Review meeting decisions.
• Distribute minutes of meeting.
• Remind people of action items.
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 26
End
Mary Ellen Guffey, Business Communication: Process and Product, 4e
Ch. 2, Slide 27