Small Group Small Group CommunicationCommunication

Why Should You Learn About Why Should You Learn About Small Groups?Small Groups?

To meet needsTo meet needs

Groups are everywhereGroups are everywhere

To learn a highly valued skillTo learn a highly valued skill

To become an effective group memberTo become an effective group member

To participate in the democratic To participate in the democratic processprocess

What is Small-Group What is Small-Group Communication?Communication?

The interaction between three to nine people who are working

together to achieve an interdependent goal

The Types and Functions of Small The Types and Functions of Small GroupsGroups

Task-oriented groups – completing Task-oriented groups – completing taskstasks– Secondary groupsSecondary groups

Relationship-oriented groups – Relationship-oriented groups – inclusion/affectioninclusion/affection– Primary groupsPrimary groups

Assigned groups – appointed hierarchy Assigned groups – appointed hierarchy

Emergent groups – environmental Emergent groups – environmental conditionsconditions

What is Leadership?What is Leadership?

A process of using communication to influence the behaviors and

attitudes of others to meet group goals

The Role of Leadership in Small The Role of Leadership in Small GroupsGroups

Types of Small Group LeadersTypes of Small Group Leaders

– Designated leaders - appointedDesignated leaders - appointed

– Emergent leaders - environmentalEmergent leaders - environmental

The Role of Leadership in Small The Role of Leadership in Small GroupsGroups

Power and Group LeadershipPower and Group Leadership– Distributive power - leaderDistributive power - leader– Integrative power - Integrative power -

interdependenceinterdependence– Designated power - relationalDesignated power - relational

Sources of PowerSources of Power– RewardReward– Punishment – withhold needsPunishment – withhold needs– Coercion – hostile tacticsCoercion – hostile tactics– Referent - loyaltyReferent - loyalty– Expert power - knowledgeExpert power - knowledge

Theoretical Approaches to Group Theoretical Approaches to Group LeadershipLeadership

Style ApproachesStyle Approaches– Democratic leadersDemocratic leaders– Laissez-faire leadersLaissez-faire leaders– Autocratic leadersAutocratic leaders

Contingency ApproachesContingency Approaches– Different contingencies (situations) Different contingencies (situations)

require different leadership stylesrequire different leadership styles

Theoretical Approaches to Group Theoretical Approaches to Group LeadershipLeadership

Communication Competencies Communication Competencies ApproachApproach– What do effective leaders do?What do effective leaders do?

The Distributed Leadership ApproachThe Distributed Leadership Approach– Each member is expected to help the Each member is expected to help the

group move forwardgroup move forward

Establishing Culture in Small Establishing Culture in Small GroupsGroups

Group NormsGroup Norms– Informal rules for interactionInformal rules for interaction

Role StructureRole Structure– Formal (positional) and informal (behavioral) Formal (positional) and informal (behavioral)

rolesroles– Behavioral functionsBehavioral functions

Task functionsTask functions Maintenance functionsMaintenance functions Self-centered functionsSelf-centered functions

Establishing Culture in Small Establishing Culture in Small GroupsGroups

Group CohesivenessGroup Cohesiveness– Trust, supportiveness, cohesivenessTrust, supportiveness, cohesiveness– GroupthinkGroupthink

Diversity and Cognitive ParadigmsDiversity and Cognitive Paradigms– Observable diversity (physical Observable diversity (physical

characteristics)characteristics)– Implicit diversity (worldview)Implicit diversity (worldview)

Problem Solving and Decision Problem Solving and Decision MakingMaking

Characteristics of Group Problem Characteristics of Group Problem SolvingSolving– Multiple perspectivesMultiple perspectives– Takes longerTakes longer– Well suited for Well suited for conjunctive tasks conjunctive tasks (all (all

members have some info, no one has members have some info, no one has all)all)

– More effective when the process is More effective when the process is systematic and organizedsystematic and organized

Problem Solving and Decision Problem Solving and Decision MakingMaking

Effective Group Problem SolvingEffective Group Problem Solving– Wording the discussion questionWording the discussion question

Is it a question of fact, value, or policy?Is it a question of fact, value, or policy? Is it stated clearly?Is it stated clearly? Is it measurable?Is it measurable? Does it focus on the problem?Does it focus on the problem?

– Discussing criteria for judging Discussing criteria for judging solutionssolutions Absolute criteria (must be met)Absolute criteria (must be met) Important criteria (should be met)Important criteria (should be met)

Problem Solving and Decision Problem Solving and Decision MakingMaking

– Identifying alternativesIdentifying alternatives BrainstormingBrainstorming

– Evaluating alternativesEvaluating alternatives

The Functions of Groups in a New The Functions of Groups in a New EraEra

Making decisionsMaking decisions

Effecting changeEffecting change

Negotiating conflictNegotiating conflict

Fostering creativityFostering creativity

Maintaining ties to Maintaining ties to stakeholdersstakeholders

Technology and GroupTechnology and GroupCommunication ProcessesCommunication Processes

Group Decision Support Group Decision Support System (GDSS)System (GDSS)– BrainstormingBrainstorming– Evaluation of alternativesEvaluation of alternatives– AnonymousAnonymous– EfficientEfficient

How Should You Communicate How Should You Communicate in Small Groups?in Small Groups?

Relate your statements to preceding Relate your statements to preceding remarksremarks

Use conventional word arrangementsUse conventional word arrangements

Speak conciselySpeak concisely

State one point at a timeState one point at a time

Being an Ethical Group Being an Ethical Group MemberMember

Be trustworthy and supportiveBe trustworthy and supportive

Be honest and truthfulBe honest and truthful

Be thorough and unbiased when Be thorough and unbiased when evaluating informationevaluating information

Behave with integrityBehave with integrity

Manage group conflict ethicallyManage group conflict ethically

Questions?Questions?

Comments from TAsComments from TAs

Head to recitation.Head to recitation.