GROUP COMMUNICATION UNIT

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• GROUP COMMUNICATION UNIT

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How is group communication defined?

• Group communication is
• 3 or more persons interacting with one another
  so each person influences and is influenced by
  each other (Shaw)
• 5 characteristics of a group
• Shared perceptions
• Common goal or motivation
• Organization (of roles leader/follower)
• Interdependency (common goal)
• Interaction- communication

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When might you have to communicate in a group?

• At a job
• Meeting with boss
• Meeting with other co-workers
• Congress
• At school
• English class making a presentation
• Lab in science
• In a club meeting (student council)
• Oral Comm class!
• Team Committee
• School Board Meeting
• Religious study groups
• Planning a surprise party for your parents with
  your siblings

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What are the different types of group
communication?

• Committee
• Round-table Discussion
• Panel
• Symposium

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Committee

• A small subgroup of a larger organization that
  has been given a specific task or set of tasks to
  perform
• - Examples
• Government usually breaks up into committees,
  like Senate Committee on Government Affaires.
• Student Council breaks into committees to plan
  school events, like collecting change for the
  Friendship Home.

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Round-table Discussion
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Round-table Discussion

• King Arthurs knights at a circular table
• Everyone has equal say
• The discussion is produced by the people in
  the group
• - Examples
• A book club meeting to discuss the latest book.
• Groups in OC.

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Panel

• Discussion of topics in front of an audience.
• - Examples
• College classes
• Sports press conferences
• In Careers class

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Symposium

• 1 member of the group gives a short,
  uninterrupted speech, which is followed by a
  speech from the next member, and so on.
• - There is no interaction between members.
• - Examples
• Congress

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Tensions
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Tensions Primary vs. Secondary

• Primaryfocused on the self social or initial
  unease
• EX worried about how to behavior what to say
• dangers of too much individual goals take
  precedence, ask extreme, group wont come
  together if everyone has this wont share b/c
  theres no TRUST
• Good self-aware of how you can help the group

• Secondary Focused on others
• Tension b/t 2 or the whole group
• Occurs when differences of opinion arise or
  jocking for leadership
• Joking/lauging helps

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Primary Vs. Secondary Tensions

• Were more worried about primary tension than
  2nd, b/c conflict (in the secondary) is okay.
• At the start, defuse the primary tension by
  having open communication, make sure the goal is
  clear, and know strengths weaknesses of each
  member.
• Introduce each other
• Talk about the goal
• Be open about strengths

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Task Messages vs. Maintenance Messages
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Youve heard these in groups

• Cant we stay focused on the assignment?
• Can we get back to the assignments?
• Stop goofing off!
• So-and-so is talking to people on the other side
  of the room.
• Lets take a vote.

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Task Messages

• Designed to help the group achieve its goals or
  complete its task.
• Initiating the goals/task
• Clarify information
• Summarize
• Consensus testing
• Seeking information or opinions

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Have you heard these?

• What do you think, so-and-so?
• Everyones opinion counts. Lets hear everyone
  out.
• I agree with so-and-so.
• I was wrong. I think thats a better idea.

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Maintenance Messages

• Purpose of keeping relationships among the
  group members harmonious so there is a positive
  climate in the group.
• Harmonizing
• Gate keeping
• Encouraging
• Compromising

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What factors affect group work?
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Size of Group
5-7 Vote w/ odd Too large not everyone
can partake
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Cliques Within a Group
A few people in the group separate from the
larger group.
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Personal Goals of Members

• When people have their own agenda (goals) that
  dont match the groups.
• Examples
• When more than one person wants to be the leader.
• When a person wants to be the funny guy more
  than the groups common goal.

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Physical Environment

• Temperature
• Visual distractions
• Noise

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Seating Arrangement

• See everyone
• Not too close
• Comfortable

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Time for Discussion

• Best when everyones alert.
• Before or after lunch isnt good.
• Enough time.
• Breaks if meeting
• is lengthy.

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Outcomes of Discussion
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Outcomes of Discussion
Consensus All members of the group agree on solution or decision.
Compromise Each member gives up part of the solution or decision they want.
Majority Vote Over half of the group favors the solution or decision. (2/3 Vote)
False Consensus Members keep serious disagreement to themselves go along.
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Groupthink

• - Illusion of agreement
• - Avoid conflict

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Groupthink

1. Read the articles.
2. Small group discussion.

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Groupthink

1. Illusion of invulnerability
2. Collective rationalization
3. Illusion of inherent morality
4. Stereotype views of opposition
5. Pressure of dissenting members
6. Self-censorship
7. Illusion of unanimity
8. Mind-guarding

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Groupthink prevention (C. Braithwaite)

1. Leader shouldnt reveal preferences right away
2. Assign devils advocate(s)
3. Form sub-groups to further explore ideas
4. Use outside experts information
5. Allow ideas to incubate

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Life Cycle of Groups
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Life Cycle of Groups
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Forming
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Forming

• Initial coming together you explain your reason
  for being in the group, your hopes
• Everyone listens to everyone
• Look for leadership
• Like infancy, awkward
• Once similarity of goals and personalities is
  established you move to the next step storming.

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Storming

• Individuals try to challenge differences of goals
  and approaches as part of an effort to express
  their own individuality to gain power over the
  group
• Leadership may be challenged
• Try to create order
• Confront resolve conflict
• Like adolescence, most difficult
• Once the group begins to resolve conflicts over
  who is to exert influence and procedures you move
  to the next step Norming.

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Norming

• The group is a cohesive unit, ready to tackle its
  task
• They trust each other
• Theyre ready to work
• They share leadership ideas
• Once the group begins to trust each other
  Performing.

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Performing

• (Final stage)
• Trust even affection for each other grows
• Strong bond b/c each feels theyre a part of a
  unique group
• The group now can effectively harmoniously
  complete their tasks.

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Goals of a Group

• Clear Elevating Goal

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Clear Elevating Goal

1. Read the chapter.
2. Be able to define a clear and elevating goal.
3. Understand its importance.

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Handling Conflict in Groups
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When you get in a conflict follow these steps.

1. Identify the warrants of the opposition.
   Warrants are the reasons for your position, not
   your position.
2. Explain the warrants of your position.
3. Respect your opponents interests. Dont attack
   the person. Respect their opinion.
4. Work for a reasonable solution, one that both
   sides like.
5. Maintain dialogue. Dont shut off and give up.
   Keep working it out verbally until a solution or
   compromise can be met.