Small Group Communication

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Small Group Communication
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What is Small-Group Communication?

• The interaction between three to nine people who
  are working together to achieve an interdependent
  goal

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The Types and Functions of Small Groups

• Task-oriented groups completing tasks
• Secondary groups
• Relationship-oriented groups inclusion/affection
  
• Primary groups
• Assigned groups appointed hierarchy
• Emergent groups environmental conditions

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Group Pros and Cons

• Cons
• More ideas Standstill
• Can slow process down
• Groupthink

• Pros
• - More ideas Better ideas
• Can speed process up
• Unity, Accountability

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What is Leadership?

• Influencing the behaviors and attitudes of others
  to meet personal or, hopefully, group goals.

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The Role of Leadership in Small Groups

• Types of Small Group Leaders
• Designated leaders - appointed
• Emergent leaders - environmental

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How Leaders Get Power

• Initiative
• Other Sources of Power
• Reward
• Punishment withhold needs
• Coercion hostile tactics
• Referent - loyalty
• Expert power - knowledge

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Leadership Styles

• Democratic leaders
• Laissez-faire leaders
• Autocratic leaders

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Establishing Culture in Small Groups

• Group Norms
• Informal rules for interaction
• Role Structure
• Formal (positional) and informal (behavioral)
  roles
• Behavioral functions
• Task functions
• Maintenance functions
• Self-centered functions

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Roles

• Examples of Task Roles
• 1. Leader - helps the group define and achieve
  goals.2. Initiator - contributor Offers ideas
  and suggestions.3. Opinion seeker  requests
  info4. Information giver5. Secretary
  recorder6. Devils advocate prevents group
  think
• 7. Follower Obeys commands and listens to
  others.
• Examples of Maintenance roles
• 1. Supporter encourager  provides emotional
  warmth, praise and acceptance2. Harmonizer
  tension reliever  promotes group peace, uses
  humor, reconciles conflict3. Gatekeeper  control
  s channels of communication and flow of
  information using openness and supportiveness4. F
  eeling expresser  monitors feelings and moods of
  the group and gives feedback.
• Examples of Self-Serving Roles1. Stagehog  recog
  nition seeker2. Isolate  withdraws from the
  group3. Clown  horseplay, practical jokes,
  comic routines that goes beyond tension
  reliever.4. Blocker  opposes everything
  new.5. Fighter  starts arguments,
  bullying.6. Cynic  displays sour outlook,
  destroys morale. 

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Stages of Group Development
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Conflict Management Styles