1Communication in Groups and Teams Work together or On your own? Sound reasons for both Sound reasons for both Groups (vs. Individuals) Groups (vs. Individuals) More time to reach decisions Superior decisions Stimulates creativity, may suppress individuals

2Communication in Groups and Teams Groups on Daily Lives Social groups Stimulation of conversation and recreation Stimulation of conversation and recreation Relaxed, informal, more interpersonal Relaxed, informal, more interpersonal Personal growth groups Dealing with issues in supportive context Dealing with issues in supportive context Task groups To solve problems, achieve goals To solve problems, achieve goals

3Communication in Groups and Teams Defining Groups & Teams A Group People interact People interact People are interdependent People are interdependent Have a common goal Have a common goal Share some rules Share some rules A Team A special kind of group A special kind of group Different & complementary resources of members Different & complementary resources of members A strong sense of collective identity; great interdepedence A strong sense of collective identity; great interdepedence

4Communication in Groups and Teams Six Kinds of Group in Business and Civic Life (p. 217) Project teams Focus group Brainstorming groups Advisory Groups Quality circles Decision making groups

5Communication in Groups and Teams Stages of Group Development Forming Initial stage; members define purposes and get acquainted Initial stage; members define purposes and get acquaintedStorming Conflict; power struggle Conflict; power struggleNorming Working out guidelines, rules Working out guidelines, rulesPerforming

6Communication in Groups and Teams Rules for Brainstorming Do not evaluate ideas; no criticism. Record ideas so everyone can see them. Quantity; the more ideas, the better. Build on ideas; extension. Encourage creativity.

7Communication in Groups and Teams Features of Small Groups (5 features) Cohesion Cohesion grows out of communication. Cohesion grows out of communication. 3 ways to promote cohesion 3 ways to promote cohesion Emphasize shared goals; reinforce group identity Highlight similarity among members Be responsive so all member feel valued Excessive cohesion; Groupthink Excessive cohesion; Groupthink Group size Affects amount and quality of communication Affects amount and quality of communication Larger vs. smaller groups Larger vs. smaller groups Five-seven, optimal Five-seven, optimal

8Communication in Groups and Teams Features of Small Groups Power structure Power over: emphasizing status Power over: emphasizing status Power to: empowering others; fostering win-win Power to: empowering others; fostering win-win Distributed power structure vs. Hierarchical Distributed power structure vs. Hierarchical Social climbing: trying to increase personal status by winning approval of higher-status member Social climbing: trying to increase personal status by winning approval of higher-status member Interaction pattern Centralized vs. Decentralized patterns Centralized vs. Decentralized patterns Proxemics: communication relevant to space Proxemics: communication relevant to space Group norms

9Communication in Groups and Teams Potential Limitation & Strength of Groups Limitations Time Time Conformity pressure Conformity pressure Majority opinion different from minority One extremely charismatic member Strengths Greater resources Greater resources More thorough thought More thorough thought Height-ended creativity Height-ended creativity Enhanced commitment to decisions Enhanced commitment to decisionsSynergy

10Communication in Groups and Teams Challenges (3 challenges) Participating constructively Four types of communication in groups (p. 227) Four types of communication in groups (p. 227) Providing leadership Establish good working climate, organize group processes, ensure substantive discussion, and control disruptive members Establish good working climate, organize group processes, ensure substantive discussion, and control disruptive members Managing conflict constructively Disruptive vs. Constructive conflict (p. 231) Disruptive vs. Constructive conflict (p. 231)