1. GROUP COMMUNICATIONS

2. I. characteristics of a group all groups and their success are affected by 3 variables – SIZE NORMS COHESION

3. I. characteristics of a group A. group size – size affects the comfort of each group member. - ideal size is 5 -7 people because everyone participates more. - 4 or less has too little diversity to generate ideas. - 7 or more will cause the quiet members to talk less, and when they do talk, only talk to authority figures.

4. I. characteristics of a group B. norms – expected behavior within the group - cooperation, it is not a competition - discussion, it is not a debate - avoid negative talk, be encouraging and positive - all three require patience

5. I. characteristics of a group C. cohesion – degree of unity - the more unity among members, the higher the degree of success.

6. II. group roles how members relate to each other and perform. everyone assumes a role or several when members of a group. there are 3 category of roles – task relational dysfunctional

7. II. group roles A. task roles -related to the job the group must do Information giver, information seeker Starter, direction giver, summarizer, energizer Gatekeeper, opinion giver, opinion seeker

8. II. group roles B. relational roles -related to resolving conflict and getting along -Participation encourager -Tension reliever -Praise giver -Empathic listener

9. II. group roles C. dysfunctional roles – related to any disruptive behaviors Blocker Attacker Recognition seeker Joker Withdrawer

10. IV. leadership styles there are 3 leadership styles which may be present in any given group situation - Laissez faire Authoritarian Democratic

11. IV. leadership styles A. laissez faire – “low control” leader - intervenes as little as possible into group discussions/decisions - empowers group members to take control of their efforts - identifies strengths of members -will appear to fade into the background

12. IV. leadership styles B. authoritarian – “high control” leader - influences all aspects of decisions and group actions - holds most of the power of decision making - manages all group interactions - guides group towards what he or she thinks is best

13. IV. leadership styles C. democratic – “moderate control” leader - offers direction when the group needs it - encourages members to voice opinions and express differences

14. V. decision making methods there are 4 ways to make decisions within groups - consensus voting compromise authority rules

15. V. decision making methods A. consensus – informal – general agreement

16. V. decision making methods B. voting – formal - agreement by individual expression of choice

17. V. decision making methods C. compromise – mutual concessions - settling of differences by each side yielding, adjusting, or ‘giving in’ on their principles to some degree

18. V. decision making methods D. authority rules – only one makes the choice – there is no say so in making the decision by members of the group; the leader makes the decision