COMM 1101 - Chapter 10: Group Communication

What are the main reasons to study small group communication?

• Groups are a fact of life - unavoidable reality

• Enhanced college performance - improves academic success

• Enhanced career success - employers value communication, interpersonal skills, and teamwork ability

• Enhance personal life - involvement in small groups beyond work or school

What is "group hate" and why does it exist?

Group hate is the distaste and aversion that many people feel toward working in groups. It exists because of negative past experiences with group work, such as unequal participation, time inefficiency, or dominating/withdrawing members.

What are the advantages of group work?

• Groups often make higher quality decisions than individuals

• Creativity as a result of social facilitation - being around others stimulates ideas

• Promotes critical thinking through discussion and debate

What are the disadvantages of group work?

• Time consuming - coordination takes longer

• Might result in premature decisions - pressure to reach consensus quickly

• Silences divergent opinions - conformity pressure

• Not satisfying when group members dominate or withdraw - unequal participation

Small group communication

communication among a small number of people who share a common purpose or goal, who feel connected to each other, and who coordinate their behavior

Four key characteristics of small groups

• A small number of people - Three to seven members

• A common purpose - Working together toward a goal

• Feel a connection with each other - interpersonal bonds

• May exert influence on each other - positive or negative impact

Difference between task and relational dimensions of groups

• Task Communication: Focused on getting the job done and solving the problem at hand

• Relational Communication: Focused on group maintenance and interpersonal relationships

Three primary group roles

• Task Roles: Directly related to the accomplishment of group goals

• Relational Roles: Help establish the group's social atmosphere

• Individual Roles: Dysfunctional to the group process (self-serving)

Leadership - Richard Daft

An influence relationship among leaders and followers who intend changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes

Key characteristics of leadership

• Leaders have an influence relationship - reciprocal interaction

• Leaders have an intention to change - Leader vs. manager distinction

• Communication is the key to effective leadership

• Strategic communication is purpose-directed

Trait theory

Leaders are born - leadership depends on inherent characteristics.

• Based on Thomas Carlyle's idea that "the history of the world was the biography of great men"

• Important traits: ambition (drive), self-confidence, integrity, intelligence, and knowledge

• Often associated with being male, tall, and good looking

• Challenged by theories that argue "state" is more important than "trait"

Functional theory

Leadership behavior can be learned - even by group members who are not "leadership types"

• Leadership duties can pass from person to person depending on the task

• Group success depends on whether group members exhibit required role behavior when necessary

• Related to shared leadership where group functions like a partnership

Authoritarian leader

takes charge, high intellect/experience

democratic leader

invites input from group member

laissez-faire leader

allows complete freedom in decision-making

Transformational Leadership Theory

The leader empowers group members to work independently by encouraging group cohesion. Qualities include:

• High moral and ethical standards

• Strong visions for the future

• Challenges status quo and encourages innovation

• Recognizes and builds follower strengths and capabilities

Servant Leadership Theory

The leader seeks to ensure other people's highest priority needs are being served to increase teamwork and personal involvement. Qualities include: awareness, listening, empathizing, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, healing, commitment to growth of others, building community

Key figures: Robert Greenleaf, Stephen Covey

Four effective small group communication practices

• Equal participation - everyone contributes

• A consensus decision-making style - agreement from all members

• A cooperative conflict style - constructive disagreement

• A respectful communication style - maintaining dignity

Steps in the Dewey Sequence of Problem Solving

• Define and Delineate the Problem

• Analyze the Problem

• Identify Alternative Solutions

• Evaluate Proposed Solutions

• Choose the Best Solution

four phases of group decision-making

• Phase 1: Orientation - characterized by primary tension

• Phase 2: Conflict - characterized by secondary (recurring) tension

• Phase 3: Emergence - group members express cooperative attitude

• Phase 4: Reinforcement - members reach consensus and feel accomplishment

Groupthink

occurs when a homogenous, highly cohesive group is so concerned with maintaining unanimity that they fail to evaluate all their alternatives and options. It is a negative, potentially disastrous group process characterized by “excessive concurrence thinking.”

How can you prevent groupthink?

• Encourage members to raise objections and concerns

• Assign one or more members to play devil's advocate

• Require the group to develop multiple scenarios

key ethical principles for small group communication

• Being truthful - your contributions affect collective decisions

• Communicate authentically - group cohesion and trust are important

• Use inclusive language - welcome all perspectives

• Listen with an open mind while evaluating others' contributions

• Help prevent groupthink - encourage diverse thinking

• Consider collective actions - accept both individual and collective responsibility

group hate

the distaste and aversion that many people feel toward working in groups

task roles

group roles directly related to the accomplishment of group goals

relational roles

group roles that help establish the group’s social atmosphere

individual roles

group roles that are dysfunctional to the group process

primary tension

the uncertainty commonly felt in the beginning phase of decision making

secondary (recurring) tension

conflict or tension found in the second or conflict phase of decision-making process

emergence

the third phase of the decision-making process; occurs when group members express a cooperative attitude

reinforcement phase

the final phase of the decision-making process when group members reach consensus and members feels a sense of accomplishment