WEEK 9

1. WEEK 9 Communicating in a Group

2. Group based communication • Small group communication takes place among members of a department, committee, task force, work group, board, project team or any other small groups brought together by a common purpose. • Small group communication is affected by how individuals approach the collection of people: Potential group dynamics include: Grandstanding, groupthink, conflict, uneven participation, venting, ganging up, wisdom of crowds.

3. Grandstanding • During problem solving or status reporting meetings, someone may take the opportunity to posture and voice strong self-serving opinions. • The whole purpose of voicing such opinions is to look good in front of others (and themselves) in the meeting. • If this is a repeating pattern, all that grandstanding may be getting on people’s nerves, or other people may feel like it is ok to grandstand and start doing it too.

4. Student Discussion How might you address grandstanding if you were; A group member Group Leader

5. Group Think • People in groups may tend to agree with the group just to avoid rocking the boat or slowing the group down. • Other people may be averse to confrontation altogether, so they will agree with what the group decides, independently of any deadlines or the ability of the group to handle conflict.

6. Student Discussion What strategies might be engaged to address Group Think?

7. Group Conflict • Some members are too attached to their points of view, and intent on convincing others of their truth. In a group, people have a stronger pressure to look good and to play a specific role, so they may not be listening as well. • When these circumstances are present, conflict in the group is likely to occur.

8. Student Discussion What are some strategies that can be engaged to AVOID possible Group Conflict

9. Talkative v. Quiet Ones • Some members don’t participate, while others dominate the conversation. Most of the time, the people in higher positions of authority talk more. • If you are the quiet person with something to say, by all means, speak up. Get over the fear of criticism and think only about the welfare of the group and the value of the ideas you need to share. • If you are the person talking too much, try to give others some room to participate. You may be thinking, If I don’t talk, nobody will That’s likely true, but if you continue talking you ensure nobody else will.

10. Student Discussion What strategies can be engaged to ensure the balance between talkers and quiet participants can be maintained.

11. Venting Anger or Frustration • At times, people need to vent their frustrations and the small group seems the perfect setting for it. The appeal lies in that liked minded individuals with a common purpose can hear your concerns. • Sometimes it’s good for the group to vent, especially when nobody has had an opportunity to discuss what’s bothering them about a given situation at work. However, venting can become unhealthy when it becomes repetitive: it becomes a waste of time and it robs power away from people, leading into feelings of victimization.

12. Student Discussion What can you do if a Group has a need to vent or express frustration?

13. Ganging Up • In small group communication, sometimes people gang up on an individual or a minority. • The interaction may not start as a verbal attack, just as a different opinion or a complaint. • People get side tracked, or it is not the proper setting to resolve the issue • Problem solving becomes secondary to blaming

14. Student Discussion What can you do in a group setting if you believe Ganging Up is occurring?

15. Group communication • Small groups have an advantage over individuals or large groups: a lot of productive work can be accomplished by small groups. • Small groups develop strong cohesion, creating bonds that span time and organizational boundaries.

16. Presenting to a group • For a presentation to reach its objective, three things must happen: 1. the speaker must have a clear aim; 2. the material must be organised in such a way that the aim is supported; 3. and the presentation should be engaging for both speaker and audience.

17. Similar to written assignments, all oral presentations have the same basic framework i.e. an introduction, a body and a conclusion. In delivery, this translates as: • tell the audience what you are going to tell them; • tell them; • tell them what you have just told them.