Group Communication Review

What are characteristics of an effective group?

• identifies clear, shared and motivational goals

• identifies clear roles and responsibilities

• utilizes an effective communication system

• monitors individual performance & gives feedback

• accesses objective & factual data to make decisions

Define climate:

emotional tone of the group; indicates how comfortable individuals are in communicating w/ one another (supportive vs. defensive)

Define group task roles:

keeps the group on task by initiating, contributing, seeking/providing info, clarifying/coordinating/summarizing/motivating

Define maintenance roles:

helps the group resolve conflict and serves a supportive function; harmonizer/compromiser/tension reliever/standard setter

Define self-centered roles:

impeded the flow of the group by fulfilling own agenda and not group; deserter/dominator/aggressor/confessor/playboy(…?)

What kind of situation is an autocratic leadership style best in?

emergency situations

Advantages of autocratic leadership style:

clear lines of authority, quick decisions, clear direction for new members

Disadvantages of autocratic leadership style:

hinders creativity, lack of ownership in problem-solving, decreased willingness to abide by decisions

Advantages of democratic leadership style:

active participation by all, sharing expertise, generation of more info, motivation between members

Disadvantages of democratic leadership style:

conflict when different perspectives arise, longer decision-making process, formation of cliques

What kind of situation is a democratic leadership style best in?

complex NON-EMERGENCY situations that require creativity and expertise

Advantages of Laissez-faire leadership style:

encourages growth and development of group members, fosters creative decision making

Disadvantages of Laissez-faire leadership style:

group members aren’t prepared to work independently, members take advantage of situation and/or flounder in their performance

What are skills an effective leader should have?

• peer/leadership skills

• conflict resolution/introspection skills

• info processing

• unstructured decision-making

• resource allocation/entrepreneurial 

Define orientation phase:

members socialize/orient themselves to the issue

Define conflict phase:

ideas are disputed and tested (coalitions may develop)

Define emergence phase:

ambiguity in the group as efforts to arrive at the best decisions

Define reinforcement phase:

unity of opinion pervades as courses of action are identified

Define groupthink:

a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action

General guidelines for team building:

• group members should have the same level and type of knowledge of the problem

• sharing territory

• statue of members need to be as equal as possible for open sharing of info

• opportunities to communicate needs to be equal