Team Presentation Working in Small Groups

Overview of Team Presentation Assignment minutes (i.e. 6-7 mins/team member) 10 minutes for Q & A (audience will roleplay interest groups-specialists (MDs & researchers), patients and families, administrators and allied health professions, & funding agencies ) Intro/Background Body of presentation will be divided among team members Conclusion

Speaker Responsibilities Individual Speakers: Intro with preview Relate section to the audience Body with transitions between main points Conclusion Everyone must use Visual Aids Moderator: Introduction Team transitions Conclusion/Q&A

Small Group Communication

Propositions about Group Communication Decisions = higher quality Higher commitment to group decisions Pitfalls and hazards are regularly uncovered Morale is higher Increased responsibility for the task Blame for errors is shared

Functioning Group Behaviors Participants know each other by name or role. There is a generous amount of interaction. Each participant has some influence on the others. Each participant defines him/herself as a member of the group and is also defined by outsiders as a member. There is a common goal, interest or benefit in holding membership in the group. There is leadership.

Building an effective group takes planning. 1) Selecting a Leader 2) Sharing Leadership Roles 3) Communicating Effectively 4) Problem-Solving Efficiently

Types of Leaders Shared or No Specific Leader Implied Leader Emergent Leader Designated Leader

1. Selecting a Leader Select a leader able to handle the responsibility. Authority Pressure for uniformity Status differentiation Disruptive behavior Incompatibility between individual and collective goals Leadership style should vary with climate of the group. Directive if task is ambiguous Supportive if unsatisfying Participative if group needs control Achievement-oriented if no motivation

2. Sharing Leadership Leadership -- A group may not always have a leader but it always has leadership. Group members can share the three leadership functions. Procedural Needs– “housekeeping” Task Needs– “focus” Maintenance Needs– “relationships”

Procedural needs involve “housekeeping tasks”. Place and Agenda Notes and Handouts Summarizing progress

Task needs provide “focus”. Analyze Delegate Collect info Solicit views Focus Devil's advocate Criteria Reach consensus

Maintenance Needs involve “interpersonal relations”. Getting along Contributing Supporting Satisfaction about accomplishments Satisfaction about roles

3. Effective Communication Effective group discussion takes time. Balance between emotional and rational Sincere skepticism is encouraged Group norms are clearly identified Some topics not appropriate

Ineffective group discussion is more common. Failure to contribute Conformity Poor Environment Control Rigid Lack of Patience Too much leadership or wrong type

Groupthink Conditions Being out of touch Being out of order Being overruled Being out of resources

Groupthink Symptoms Group’s tendency to view itself as powerful Closed-mindedness Pressure toward uniformity Minimizing Techniques Question self/actions Divide into subgroups Involve outsiders Add diversity

4. Efficient Problem-Solving Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Method Define and narrow the problem Analyze the problem Establish criteria for solutions Generate potential solutions Select the best solution/s

1. Define the Problem Specific Open Avoid Bias 2. Analyze the Problem How Severe? How many people are affected? What if the problem is not resolved? What are the Causes?

3. Establish Criteria for the Solutions What must solution achieve? What might limit the choice of solutions? 4. Generate Potential Solutions Avoid judging while brainstorming Individuals record their own 5. Select the Best Solution Compare to established Criteria Evaluate all solutions

Review: Small group communication takes planning. Selecting a Leader Shared Leadership Discussion Problem-Solving