SMALL-GROUP
COMMUNICATIO
N
Quote for day:
When you change your
thoughts, remember
to also change your
world
Norman Vincent Peale
The Importance of Learning About Small Groups
Small groups are the basic building
blocks of our society.
Examples of the groups on which our
society is built include families, work
teams, support groups, religious circles,
and study groups.
The Importance of Learning About Small Groups
Small groups are important due to the following reasons:
1. It is an aspect of nearly every human activity.
The need for inclusion.
The need for affection.
The need for control.
2. It is expected to increase the future, particularly in business and industry.
3. Being an effective group or team member is a skill you can learn about, develop, and master.
4. It is an important way to participate in the democratic process.
Defining Small-Group Communication
This is the interaction among three to nine people who are working together
to achieve an interdependent goal.
What makes us small-group communication include the following:
1. Groups must be small enough that members are mutually aware that the group is a
collective entity.
2. The substance that creates and hold the group together is the interaction between
members.
3. Group members are interdependent.
The Types and Functions of Small
Groups
There are two types of groups:
1. Assigned groups: these occur when individuals are appointed to be members of the group.
2. Emergent groups: these occur when a group of individuals decide to form a cohesive group out of personal need or
desire, but they are not appointed to be part of the group.
Groups can also be classified based on the function they serve:
1. Task-oriented groups: these are formed for the purpose of completing tasks.
2. Relationship-oriented groups: these are usually long-term and exist to meet our needs for the inclusion and
affection.
Establishing Culture in Small Groups
The development of Group Norms.
Norms are informal rules for group interaction created and sustained through
communication.
Norms for a group behaviour implicitly and sometimes explicitly tells how to act
and behave with others in the group.
The norms of any group tend to mirror the norms of broader cultures in which the
group
exists.
Both positive and negative norms can develop in groups.
Norms often develop rapidly, without members consciously realizing what is taking
place.
Attention should be paid to group norms to ensure that they are appropriate to
the group task.
Establishing Culture in Small Groups
The development of roles for group members.
A role is a consistent pattern of interaction or behaviour exhibited over time.
Formal and informal group roles are the two major types of groups roles.
A Formal role, also sometimes referred to as a positional role is an assigned role based on
an individual’s position or title within the group.
An informal role, which is sometimes called behavioural role is a role that
develops naturally, or spontaneously, within a group.
Behaviours performed by group members can be classified into task, maintenance , or
sel- centred roles.
Establishing Culture in Small Groups
Task functions are behaviours that are directly relevant to the group’s purpose
and that affect the group’s productivity.
Maintenance functions are behaviours that focus on the interpersonal
relationships among group members.
Both task and maintenance functions are considered essential to effective group
communication.
Self-centred functions are behaviours that serve the needs of the individual at the
expense of the group.
Establishing Culture in Small Groups
Group Cohesiveness.
Group climate is an important element that helps shape a group’s culture. It is the
emotional tone or atmosphere members create within the group.
Factors that heavily contribute to group climate are trust, cohesiveness
and supportiveness.
Trust means that members believe they can rely on each other.
Supportiveness refers to an atmosphere of openness in which members care
about each other and create cohesiveness.
Cohesiveness is the attachment members feel toward each other and the group.
When the desire for cohesion and agreement takes precedence over
critical analysis and discussion, a groupthink happens.
Establishing Culture in Small Groups
Observable signs of groupthink include the following:
1. An illusion of invulnerability of the group.
2. An unquestioned belief in the morality of the group.
3. Collective efforts by group members to rationalise faculty decisions.
4. Stereotypic views of enemy leaders as evil, weak, or ineffective.
5. Self-censorship of alternative viewpoints.
6. A shared illusion that all group members think the same thing.
7. Direct pressure on group members expressing divergent opinions.
8. The emergence of “mind guards” to screen the group from information contradictory
to the prevailing opinion.
Establishing Culture in Small Groups
To prevent groupthink from occurring,
groups should:
1. Seek all pertinent information.
2. Carefully assess the credibility of
information relevant to the decision at
hand.
3. Assign members to present
counterarguments.
4. Maintain a commitment to finding the
best possible outcome as supported
by the available evidence.
Establishing Culture in Small Groups
The effect of diversity on group culture.
Group culture is the socially negotiated system
of rules that guide group behaviour.
The culture of a group can be influenced by
many things such as the norms and behaviours of
group members, diversity among group members.
Within-group diversity is the presence of
observable and/or implicit differences among group
members. This occurs when group members differ
based on visible characteristics.
Group diversity can be implicit when members of a
group have differing values, attitudes, and
perspectives; personal characteristics that cannot
be seen.
Gender differences, cultural differences can as
well influence group dynamics.
Quote for
day:
A leader is one who
knows the way, goes
the way and shows the
way.
John C. Maxwell
Quote for day:
Great leaders don’t set out to
be a leader, they set out to
make a difference. Its never
about the role, its always
about the goal
Anonymou
s
The Role of Leadership in Small Groups
Four issues that group leaders must attend to include
the following:
1. Identifying the task of the group.
2. Creating cohesiveness among the group members.
3. Monitoring and adapting the behaviours of the group
members as needed to accomplish tasks.
4. Keeping the group focused on the task at hand
Defining Leadership
Leadership is a process of using communication to influence the behaviours and
attitudes of
others to meet group goals.
Two types of leaders found in small groups are: designated and emergent leaders.
A designated leader is someone who has been appointed or elected to a leadership
position .
An emergent leader is someone who becomes an informal leader by exerting
influence towards the achievement of a group’s goal but does not hold the formal
position or role of a leader.
The use of power is one way through which group leaders can gain influence over
Defining Leadership
Power is the interpersonal influence that forms the basis for small-group leadership.
There are three types of power that group leaders likely use:
1. Distributive power; whereby the leader exerts influence over others.
2. Integrative power; which highlights interdependence with another person or
persons to achieve mutually agreed-upon goals.
3. Designated power; which reflects the importance of relationships between
people.
Defining Leadership
Different ways in which group members enact power:
1. Reward power – the ability to give followers what they want and need.
2. Punishment power – the ability to withhold from followers what they want and
need.
3. Referent power – power based on others’ admiration and respect.
4. Expert power – power that arises when the other members value a person’s
knowledge or expertise.
5. Legitimate power – power given to a person because of a title, position, or role.
Group leaders must understand how to use power in ways that balance several
of these tensions in an effort to push the group to achieve its goals while building
and maintaining a positive culture.
Ways of Enacting Leadership
Leadership Styles
Three major styles of designated
leadership are:
1. Democratic leaders.
2. Laissez-faire leaders.
3. Autocratic leaders.
Leadership style is expected to
match the needs of the situation
as a single leadership style
doesn’t seem ideal for all
situations.
Ways of Enacting Leadership
The Communication Competencies of Leaders.
Barge and Hirokawa in their model stated that leaders help a group achieve
its goals through communication skills (competencies).
The Planning Skills of Leaders.
Some tips for planning effective meetings include:
1. Know the task at hand.
2. Know the people.
3. Collect information.
4. Distribute leadership.
5. Organise the discussion.
