Group Communication

1. Group Communication What is the difference between a group & a crowd? Group- Consists of people who communicate with each other over time and share an interest in the same things or share a common purpose Groups may be formal or informal Purpose of group may be social, task, or a combination of social & task

2. Group Communication Typically, members of a group… • Communicate regularly • Participate in planning, decision making or action • Feel connected to other members

3. Group Norms • Group norms- Standards for behavior within a group; how you are expected to interact • Whether it’s okay to arrive early or late, how hard to work, how to act or dress, whether taking a break is acceptable or not, when and how to disagree, what topics are acceptable to discuss, how much to divulge about personal life, etc.

4. Ideal Groups • Group size: Researchers have found ideal group size is 5-7 members • Cohesion- When members have respect for one another, share same values, and look to one another for support; when they all want to achieve the same goal

5. Group discussion-Cooperative exchange of information, opinions, and ideas • Types of Group Discussion: • Panel- informal discussion that takes place before an audience; designed to help audience become more familiar with issues • Symposium- more formal; present opposing points of view; invited experts deliver short speeches on particular issues • Town Hall Meeting- members of the community discuss issues and usually vote for solutions

6. Leadership Leadership functions: any kind of behavior that helps the group toward its goal (could be one or more members of a group who fulfill these roles; group can have effective leadership even without an official leader)

7. Characteristics of a good leader: • Good grasp of problem (well-informed) • Familiar with group process- can organize (provide direction & structure) • Open-minded (consultant rather than boss) • Self-disciplined, respectful, empathetic • Good speaker (skillful communicator) • Can formulate goals & ideas for both group and self • Share rewards and give group credit (believe in teamwork) • Good planner • Able to adapt to meet needs of group

8. Ways of becoming leader: • Appointed • Elected • Emerging • Shared

9. Duties of a leader: Procedural matters • State topic • Call on individuals • Request specific info. • Open and close meeting Interpersonal or climate matters • Promote group cohesiveness • Encourage members to respect one another • Help members get to know one another

10. Styles of Leadership • Laissez-faire: advises if called upon; observes, records; does not direct • Authoritarian: strongly directs; very goal-oriented & opinionated • Democratic: guides; receptive to members’ suggestions; leaves decisions up to group

11. Group Roles • Initiator- Proposes new ideas, goals, procedures, methods, solutions • Information seeker- Asks for facts, clarification, or information from other members • Information giver- Offers facts and information, personal experiences, and evidence

12. Group Roles • Opinion seeker- Draws out opinions of others • Opinion giver- States own belief or opinion; expresses a judgment • Clarifier- Elaborates on ideas expressed by another, often by giving an example, explanation, or illustration

13. Group Roles • Coordinator- Clarifies relationships among facts, ideas, and suggestions; suggests an integration of ideas and activities of two or more group members • Orienter- Makes sure the group is focused on purpose or goal, defines position of the group, summarizes or suggests the direction of the discussion • Energizer- Prods the group to greater activity or to a decision; stimulates activity; warns the group to act while there is still time

14. Group Roles • Procedure developer- Offers suggestions for accomplishing ideas of others, or handles such tasks as seating arrangements, setting up the computer, handing out papers, running copies, etc. • Recorder- Keeps written record; serves as group’s “memory” • Supporter- Praises, agrees, indicates warmth and solidarity with others or goes along with them

15. Group Roles • Harmonizer- Mediates differences between others • Tension reliever- Jokes or brings out humor in a situation, reduces formality and status differences, relaxes others • Gatekeeper- Opens channels of communication, brings in members who otherwise might not speak; sees that everyone has a fair chance to be heard

16. Group Roles • Blocker- Constantly raises objections, insists nothing can be done, repeatedly brings up the same topic after the rest of the group has disposed of it • Aggressor- Deflates status of others, expresses disapproval, jokes at the expense of others, expresses ill will or envy • Recognition seeker- Boasts, calls attention to self, relates irrelevant personal experiences, seeks sympathy or pity • Dominator- Tries to run the group by giving directions, ordering, and interrupting; insists on his or her own way • Observer- Part of the group but only watches; not an active participant • Isolate- Does not participate; may not want to be part of the group