OBJECTIVES:

• Define Small Group Communication
• Discuss the Characteristics of a Team
• List and Describe the Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in Groups
• Compare and Contrast Primary and Secondary Groups
• Distinguish Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures
• Identify the Four Elements fo Competent Small Group Communication
• Identify Six Task and Three Group Relationship Competencies

• Communication is the process of acting on information.
• Interaction among a small group of people who share a common purpose or goal, who feel a sense of belonging to the group, and who exert influence on one another.
• Teams are coordinated groups of individuals, organized to work together to achieve a specific, common goal.

 
• The Importance of Teams

• Four Characteristics of Teams
• Clearly defined roles, duties, and responsibilities for team members.
• Clearly defined rules and expectations for team operation. (rule- a prescription for acceptable behavior)
• Teams develop clear, well-defined goals.
• Teams have coordinated and collaborative methods for accomplishing the work.

• Effective Teams
• A Clear, Elevating Goal
• A Results-Driven Structure
• Competent Team Members
• Unified Commitment
• A Collaborative Climate
• Standards of Excellence
• External Support and Recognition
• Principled Leadership

 
• Enhancing Team Effectiveness
• Develop and clarify the team goal
• Learn the strengths of each member
• Clarify group expectations and set team ground rules
• Identify barriers that may keep the team from achieving its goal
• Use effective communication skills
• Develop a plan to accomplish the goal
• Put the plan into action
• Evaluate the plan and team procedures

 
• Working in Groups and Teams (p. 15)
• Advantages
• More information
• Stimulate creativity
• Improves learning
• Increases satisfaction
• Gain a better understanding of yourself

 
• Disadvantages
• Pressure for conformity to major opinion
• Individual dominance
• Social loafing
• Time consuming

• Types of Small Groups (p. 19)

• Primary Groups
• main purpose is to fulfill the basic need to associate with others (to be social)

• Families are excellent examples (very informal)

 
• Secondary Groups

 
• exists to accomplish a task or achieve a goal.
• Problem solving group - overcome obstacles and make more money.
• Decision-making group -make a choice among several alternatives.
• Study group - gather information and learn new ideas.
• Therapy group (encounter group; support group, T-group) -strives to provide treatment for group members' personal problems or provides encouragement and support to help manage stress.
• Committee -elected or appointed by a larger group for a specific task
• standing committee - remains active
• ad hoc committee -disbands when special task is complete

 

 

• Me Versus We: An Obstacle to Collaboration in Groups and Teams

• Individualism - our tendency to focus on individual accomplishment
• Collectivism - our tendency to value group or team achievement
• Avoid I, ME, and MY . . . Use US, WE, and OUR.
• Comparison of Individualistic and Collectivistic Assumptions (p. 20)

 
• Becoming a Competent Small Group Communicator

• A person who is able to interact appropriately and effectively with others in small groups and teams

"The ability to communicate in a personally effective and socially appropriate manner."

• Four Levels
• Unconscious incompetence
• Conscious incompetence
• Conscious competence
• Unconscious competence

 
• Component Model - motivation (sensitivity and commitment), knowledge, and skills

• An Introduction to Group Problem-Solving Competencies

 
• Nine Competencies, organized around TASK competencies (behaviors that help solve problems) and RELATIONAL competencies (behaviors that manage individual relationships and group climate). (see page 26),

 
• Group TASK COMPETENCIES
• Define the Problem
• Analyze the Problem
• Identify Criteria
• Generate Solutions
• Evaluate Solutions
• Maintain Task Focus

 
• Group RELATIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Manage Conflict
• Maintain Climate
• Manage Interaction
• Putting Principles into Practice

• Work in small groups to benefit from the knowledge and information that others have but you lack.

 
• Learn to recognize the key elements that make a team effective:
• A clear elevating goal
• A results-driven structure
• Competent team members
• Unified commitment
• A collaborative climate
• Standards of excellence
• External support and recognition
• Principled Leadership

 
• Try to learn something new about yourself when you work with others in small groups.

 
• Do NOT let one or two members of a small group dominate the discussion.

 
• Assume your FAIR share of the responsibility for getting things done.

 
• Try to be MOTIVATED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, and SKILLED whenever you are a member of a small group.

 
• Help your group get a task accomplished by defining and analyzing the problem, identifying criteria, generating solutions, evaluating solutions, and maintaining task focus.

 
• Help maintain group relationships by effectively managing conflict, maintaining a positive climate, and managing interaction.

 
• ICE BREAKERS & EXERCISES

 
• Activity One - Gift Shop
• Activity Six -Least Well/Most Well
• Agree-Disagree Statements
• Four Facts
• Group Communication Journal
• Describe, Analyze, & Evaluate your Group Experiences
• Describe what happened
• Analyze what happened
• Evaluate what happened