Communicating in groups

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Communicating in groups

• Peter AlbionFOE1000

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Informal and formal groups

• Informal groups
• Formed spontaneously to accommodate peoples
  interests
• Formal groups
• Established by authority to accomplish
  organisational goals

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Features of groups

• Group members
• know each others names
• share common interests
• interact together
• call themselves a group
• are regarded by others as a group
• Group characteristics
• interactive
• goal-oriented
• members influence each other

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Characteristics of teams

• an atmosphere of shared responsibility
• an identity
• an agreed goal
• diversity of members contributions
• interconnected efforts of the members
• shared leadership
• mutual support
• commitment of members
• a larger system in which the team operates

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Groups as teams

• Teams groups with greater sense of
• Team spirit
• Interdependence of members
• Mutual goal
• Synergy (constructive energy)
• Assists team maintenance
• Supports results greater than sum of parts

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Group communication patterns

• Develop according to
• group structure
• the status and kinds of members
• the leadership style and
• the nature of the group task
• Should support task and relationship needs
• Interactive communication patterns
• All members contribute
• Help group problem-solving
• May take more time and effort

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Issues in group development

• Orientation
• Unrest
• Power
• Control
• Exploration
• Performance
• Separation

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Group development

• Tuckman (1965) identified five phases
• Forming
• Storming
• Norming
• Performing
• Mourning
• Task and relationship issues vary by stage

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Group norms (1)

• Social standards of behaviour in groups
• May be
• Implicit (not stated or hidden) and/or
• Explicit (discussed specifically or open)
• Breaking norms can cause conflict

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Group norms (2)

• Groups should
• Agree on suitable norms
• Monitor the norms
• Norms for a supportive team include
• Appropriate team meeting norms
• Personal norms
• Communication norms
• Social norms
• Work norms

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Recognising diversity

• Diversity in perspectives can benefit group
• Males and females may differ on issues
• Different cultural backgrounds may have
  conflicting values and personal preferences
• Seek to understand individual differences
• Regard diversity as opportunity

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Communicating in teams

• Self-directed teams
• Are responsible for a complete process
• Need effective communication
• Must be able to make key decisions

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Team-building

• Build teams by
• Listening effectively to each other
• Using helping and planning skills
• Reviewing progress regularly
• Asking questions
• Encouraging participation
• Checking perceptions
• Taking accurate records of progress and priorities

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Problem-solving decision-making in groups

• Build trust
• Collaborate
• Give and receive feedback
• Consensus assists commitment to decisions
• Set decision-making criteria collaboratively
• Use ICT to support decision-making if members
  cannot meet face-to-face

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Creativity in professional groups

• Creative problem-solving techniques include
• Brainstorming
• Metaphorical thinking
• Other creative-thinking techniques
• Listing
• Doing rounds
• Force-field analysis
• Sentence completion
• Conceptual mapping

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Leadership

• Leadership styles
• Authoritarian
• Democratic
• Laissez-faire styles
• Influenced by
• Task
• Membership
• Resources
• Deadlines
• Responsibility

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Leadership

• Leadership roles
• Defining and clarifying the problem or task
• Summarising
• Dealing with conflict
• Helping to provide a supportive working atmosphere

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Conflict management

• Become aware of how conflict can occur
• Look for verbal and non-verbal signs
• Use skills of conflict resolution
• Provide constructive feedback
• Treat others with respect
• Listen carefully and with empathy
• State your own point of view assertively
• Recognise that saving face can be a very
  important issue

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Informal meetings

• Discussion groups
• Committees
• Aim to achieve consensus
• Agree and be committed to a decision
• The chairperson helps the constructive exchange
  of opinion and information

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Formal meetings

• Boards
• Annual General Meetings
• Emphasis on democratic discussion debate
• Adherence to rules and regulations
• Ensuring fair play
• Proper recording of decisions
• Expertise is required in the detail of procedure
  and more self-control and care in participation

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Achieving professional goals through groups (1)

• In workgroups aim to be
• Articulate
• Decisive
• Controlled
• Logical
• Courteous
• In discussion groups aim for constructive
  exchange of opinion and information

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Achieving professional goals through groups (2)

• In informal meetings aim for achievement of
  consensus
• In formal meetings aim for
• Democratic discussion and debate
• Adherence to rules and regulations, ensuring fair
  play
• Proper recording of decisions

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Achieving professional goals through groups (3)

• Requires
• Effective communication techniques
• Building trust in the group
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Sharing leadership
• Managing conflict constructively
• Being creative, adaptable and flexible

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Immediate relevance

• Task 6
• Peer review in pairs
• How did it go?
• Task 8
• Group presentation
• Opportunity to apply these ideas