Week 7 - Group Communication

Group communication

a message sent by one group member to one or more receivers in the group with the intent that the message will impact the receivers behaviour.

Content Dimension

WHAT is being said (verbally)

Relational dimension

HOW it is being said (non-verbally) tone, facial expressions, genstures

Effective Communication

When the message is communicated in a way that allows the receiver to understand it's intended meaning

3 factors that prohibit effective communication

1. unmatching content and relational dimensions.

2. jargon or unclear language.

3. distractions or inability to understand the message.

3 social goals (funcations) for communication

1. Instrumental function

2. Relational management function

3. Interactional management function

Instrumental function

providing information or support to others, persuading others.

Relationship management function

resolving conflict, maintaining privacy, establishing authority.

Interactional management function

directing a conversation, changing topics, managing affect and impressions

6 tips for sending an effective message

1. be complete and specific, 2. ask for feedback (and be able to receive it), 3. be redundant, 4. ensure content and relational elements of the message match, 5. the message is consistent, 6. don't evaluate people.

Bypassing

occurs when we fail to be specific about what we mean, and assume others have the same definitions that we do.

3 tips to receive messages successfully

paraphrase the content, describe your interpretation of message, clear up miscommunications effectively.

Dysfunctional Processing

common knowledge effect, confirmation bias, false dichotomies.

Common knowledge effect

a type of bypassing, when group members focus on information known to the group, ignoring information held by a few. Is culturally bound. Example: pressing the button for stop lights.

Confirmation bias

seeking (or paying attention to) information that confirms beliefs and ignoring information to the contrary.

False Dichotomies

viewing options from two opposing extreme possibilities

Status-oriented communication style

a group communication style that focuses on tasks and problem solving.

connection-oriented communication style

a group communication style that focuses on emotions and relations.

Tenzer et al, 2014

Examined the degree to which language diversity contributes to communication and trust issues in multinational corporations

The most successful groups...

...prioritize both task and socio-emotional roles.

Promotive functions

encouraging sound reasoning and critical thinking within group communication. Promoting good.

Counteractive functions

preventing groups from making errors within group communication. Preventing bad.

3 levels that group members can be analyzed on

1. frequency and length of communication

2. who communicates to whom.

3. Who impacts one or more group members in a negative way.

How to re-establish trust

express regret, explain, acknowledge responsibility, show commitment to change, offer repair, request forgiveness

Fife et al, 2024

Defensive communication

evaluation of behaviour, attempts to control, emotional indifference, superiority, certainty

Supportive communication

descriptive, attempts to solve process problems, emotionally empathic, equality mindset, tentativeness.

Communication networks (5), and what they influence

Chain, Y, Circle, Wheel, Open. Influence leadership, organization, morale, group efficiency.

Authority hierarchy

when role requirements in groups are such that different members have different roles and some are supervisors. Characterized by some one-way communication

Effects of one-way messaging

Leveling, sharpening, assimilation.

Levelling

the message is reduced to a more concise, simpler version

Sharpening

the message is reduced to a few key points and the rest is discarded

Assimilation

the message is influenced by the receiver's thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences (game of telephone)

Cooperative groups display communication that more...

...frequent, open, honest, and accurate. (open communication network - Star)

Factors of cooperative group environments that effect communication

temperature, noise, furniture comfort.

4 good communication skills (417 skills)

1. ask questions: clarify ambiguity - open vs. closed questions.

2. use active listening

3. give constructive feedback

4. Manage feelings: encourage and acknowledge feelings, understand and process feelings.