Chapter 8 Small Group Communication and Leadership

How We Study Small Groups, and Why Small groups affect our lives in many ways Small groups affect our lives in many ways We need these groups to make good decisions We need these groups to make good decisions Scholars look at the psychology, identity formation, networking, and processes of small groups Scholars look at the psychology, identity formation, networking, and processes of small groups Less attention is paid to relationship- building in small groups Less attention is paid to relationship- building in small groups

How Do We Know if We Are in a Small Group? Groups have a common purpose Groups have a common purpose Groups are organized, aware of each other as members, and communicate among themselves Groups are organized, aware of each other as members, and communicate among themselves Groups view themselves as a part of something shared Groups view themselves as a part of something shared

Types of Groups Formal (task-oriented, outcome focused) Formal (task-oriented, outcome focused) Advisory (task-specific, focused on ‘best answers’) Advisory (task-specific, focused on ‘best answers’) Creative (evaluates concepts, new products, problems) Creative (evaluates concepts, new products, problems) Support (Advises, shares knowledge, raises consciousness) Support (Advises, shares knowledge, raises consciousness) Networking (Building and sustaining relationships) Networking (Building and sustaining relationships) Primary vs. secondary Primary vs. secondary

Types of Groups

Types of Groups, Continued

How Groups are Created Forming Forming Storming Storming Norming Norming Performing Performing Adjourning (Tuckman, 1965) Adjourning (Tuckman, 1965) Orientation Orientation Conflict Conflict Emergence Emergence Reinforcement (Fisher, 1970) Reinforcement (Fisher, 1970)

Features of Groups Togetherness (common motives/goals) Togetherness (common motives/goals) Commitment (desire to be team players and to achieve common goals) Commitment (desire to be team players and to achieve common goals) Cohesiveness (ability to work together; degree to which members are able to get along) Cohesiveness (ability to work together; degree to which members are able to get along)

Expectations of Groups Follow norms or rules for member behavior Follow norms or rules for member behavior Fulfill particular roles within the group Fulfill particular roles within the group Create and sustain a ‘group culture’ Create and sustain a ‘group culture’

Leadership in Groups Leadership is not always power; power in groups is transactional Leadership is not always power; power in groups is transactional Leadership can be transacted by task/socioemotional/team leaders Leadership can be transacted by task/socioemotional/team leaders Leadership is a process, not a personal characteristic Leadership is a process, not a personal characteristic Leaders are interdependent with their teams Leaders are interdependent with their teams

Group Decision Making Informal or formal Informal or formal Functional theory Functional theory Define problem Define problem Analyze issues Analyze issues Establish criteria for solution Establish criteria for solution Generate solutions Generate solutions Evaluate solutions Evaluate solutions Choose and implement best solution Choose and implement best solution Develop action plan to track the solution) Develop action plan to track the solution) Promotive vs. disruptive communication Promotive vs. disruptive communication

Group Decision Making and Relationships Group culture (relationships among members) Group culture (relationships among members) Group history (sense of common past and experiences) Group history (sense of common past and experiences) Group future (desire to remain connected) Group future (desire to remain connected) Group norms (set standards for relational interaction) Group norms (set standards for relational interaction)

Group Decision Making and Relationships Cohesiveness vs. conformity Cohesiveness vs. conformity ‘Groupthink’ ‘Groupthink’ Persuasion (purposive vs. incidental) Persuasion (purposive vs. incidental)