Chapter 6 Verbal and Nonverbal Communication in Groups 1 Two Essential Tools a Every group member uses verbal and nonverbal communication to create messages that generate meaning b Verbal communication focuses on how you use words and language c Regardless of the channel used groups do their work through language d Without language you cannot have a group discussion you cannot follow an agenda take minutes read a report or interact effectively with other group members e Nonverbal communication is just as important as language f Nonverbal communication refers to message components other than g Without the nonverbal component it would be difficult to interpret words that generate meaning the meaning of spoken language h Tone of voice directness of eye contact and physical proximity of group members can reveal at least as much about their thoughts and feelings as the words they speak In dialectic terms effective group members rely on both verbal and nonverbal communication to generate meaning i 2 Team Talk Donnellon uses the term team talk to describe the language that group members should use as they work together Not only does team talk enable group members to share information and express opinions analysis of team talk also reveals where the team is coming from and where it is headed More importantly talk is a tool for changing a team s destination and achieving success a The Dimensions of Team Talk i Group members should listen carefully for words sentences and patterns of speech used repeatedly during discussions ii By listening to and analyzing how the group uses language group members can discover how the group s language fosters or inhibits success iii Always remember that language creates thoughts feelings and behavior in team members which affect the way the team uses power manages conflict and negotiations iv Team Talk Dimensions Identification Use plural pronouns Interdependence Use collective language 1 2 3 Minimal Power Differentiation Use considerate language 4 Social Equality Use casual informal language 5 Conflict Management Use collaborative language 6 Negotiation Use exploratory language b Use I You and We Language Appropriately i When you use the word I you take responsibility for your own feeling and actions ii Some people avoid I language when it is most important Instead they shift responsibility from themselves to other by using the word you You language may express judgments about others iii iv Successful teams use the plural pronouns we and you when v They announce that the group depends on everyone rather talking to one another than on a single member 3 Language Challenges group members can avoid many misunderstandings by overcoming language based obstacles to communication The most common language difficulties are listed below a Abstract Words i You can minimize the misinterpretation of words by recognizing the ways in which different levels of meaning affect communication ii The more abstract your language is for instance the more likely your group members will interpret its meaning other than the way you intended iii Abstract words refer to ideas or concepts you cannot see or iv Reliance on abstract words increases the chances of touch misunderstanding v Concrete words refer to specific things that you perceive with your senses things you can see hear touch smell or taste vi When working in groups use words that refer directly to observable objects people or behavior i When group members use different meanings for the same words and phrases they run the risk of bypassing a form of miscommunication that occurs when people miss each other with their meanings ii An entire group project may falter or fail if there are differences in the interpretation of a single word or phrase iii What s important is not what words mean to you but what group members mean when they use or hear the same words b Bypassing c Offensive Language i Offensive language demeans inappropriately excludes or stereotypes people ii Avoid words that specify the gender of individuals in particular roles or occupations Instead use words that refer to both men and women iii iv Poorly chosen words can perpetuate discrimination v Avoid language that stereotypes people based on their culture race religion or lifestyle d Jargon Jargon is the specialized or technical language of a profession i ii Groups use jargon as verbal shorthand that allows members iii to communicate with each other clearly efficiently and quickly In some groups the ability to use jargon properly is a sign of team membership it can also help the team to accomplish its work quickly and efficiently iv Even though jargon can be useful and efficient it can also make ideas difficult to understand and can conceal the truth v Use jargon only when you are sure that all the members of your group will understand it 4 Language Differences group member diversity influences how we use and listen to language a Language and Gender i Every group member should monitor and adapt to the different ways in which women and men may express their opinions ii Rather than stereotyping men and women we see these differences as tendencies rather than characteristics iii Women tend to use language to maintain relationships and cooperate with others Some women speak tentatively Their speech is more likely to contain qualifiers and tag questions iv Men tend to use language to assert their ideas and compete with others Men are less likely to express themselves tentatively Male speech is generally more direct and forceful v Neither is better than the other b Language and Culture i For most groups a single language is the medium of interaction even though members from different backgrounds generations and geographic areas may speak the same language quite differently ii A dialect is a variation in vocabulary pronunciation syntax and style that distinguishes speakers from different ethnic groups geographic areas and social classes iii All of us have dialects depending on where we come from where we live the types of people and friends with whom we associate and how we want to be perceived by others iv Because dialects have the potential to influence the perceptions of group members many speakers use codeswitching to avoid negative stereotypes related to language v Codeswitching refers to the ability to change from the dialect of your own cultural setting and adopt the language of the majority in particular situations vi The ways in which you use language