Essentials of Human Communication, 7th Edition Joseph A. DeVito Hunter College of the City University of New York Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter Ten: Members and Leaders in Small Group Communication This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: - any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; - preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; - any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 10 Goals Participate more effectively in small groups Learn different kinds of small groups effectively Participate and lead small groups by considering cultural differences Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Members in Small Group Communication Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Group Task Roles “Getting the job done” Information giver or seeker Opinion giver or seeker Initiator-contributor Elaborator Evaluator-critic Procedural technician or recorder Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Group Building and Maintenance Roles “Serving the relationship needs of the group” Encourager or Harmonizer Compromiser Gatekeeper-Expediter Standard Setter Follower Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Individual Roles Aggressor Recognition Seeker Self-Confessor Blocker Special Interest Pleader Dominator Troller—an Internet contributor Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Becoming a Better Team Member Be group/team-oriented Always keep conflict “issue-focused” Be critically open-minded Ensure understanding Beware of groupthink Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Leaders in Small Group Communication Leadership defined two ways: research and theory Leadership is the process of influencing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of group members and establishing the direction that others follow Leadership is the process of empowering others Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Myths The skills of leadership are rare. Leaders are born. Leaders are all charismatic. Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Leadership Approaches Trait Centered Leadership identifies people who have an optimal mix of personality and professional qualities Functional Leadership is responsive to dynamic and changing situations Transformational Leadership is characterized by leaders who possess charisma and seek to encourage and empower members Situational Leadership is demonstrated by an individual who is able to adjust and adapt tasks to member situations, maturity, and mix. See figure 10.1 A Model of Situational Leadership Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

General Styles of Leadership Laissez-faire leader Democratic leader Authoritarian leader Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Leadership Skills Prepare members and start interaction Build group cohesiveness Maintain effective interaction Guide through the agreed-on agenda Ensure member satisfaction Empower group members Encourage ongoing evaluation and improvement Manage conflict Mentor Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Membership, Leadership and Culture Each culture maintains its own belief system that influences group behavior Each culture has its own rules of expected and preferred leadership Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Individual and Collective Orientations Small groups differ in how they promote individual or collective concerns It is not an “all or nothing” proposition–groups simply operate out of a preferred orientation The question must be answered: How independent can group members be if the group is to remain interdependent? Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

High and Low Power Distances High-Power-Distance cultures concentrate power and influence into the hands of a few. Low-Power-Distance cultures distribute power more evenly, so people operate and see themselves more equally. Each approach has a significant impact on relationships, communication flow and personal style. Copyright ©2011, 2008, 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

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