Chapter 1 Introduction to Group Communications 1 Succeeding in Groups a Whereas individual achievement was one the measure of personal success success in today s complex world depends on the ability to work in groups 2 Defining Group Communication group communication is defined as the interaction of three or more interdependent members working to achieve a common goal Group and team are used interchangeably A group of friends organizing an annual block party can be just as diligent organized and productive as a corporate team organizing a stockholders meeting a Key Elements of Group Communication i Three or More Members 1 A third person can be the listener who judges and influences the content and style of the conversation She or he can listen while the other two talk support or criticize one or both offer alternatives and contribute to a tie breaking decision if the other two people cant agree 2 As the size of the group increases the number of possible interactions and potential misunderstandings increases even faster 3 Many organizations have learned the importance of creating groups in a size most likely to achieve specific goals Interaction ii 1 Interaction requires communication among group members who use verbal and nonverbal messages to generate meanings to establish relationships 2 Communication allows members t share information and opinions make decisions and solve problems and develop interpersonal relationships 3 Members learn which behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate and which communication rules govern the interaction among members iii Interdependence 1 Interdependence means that each group member is affected and influenced by the actions of other members 2 A successful interdependent group functions as a cohesive team in which every member is responsible for doing his or her part 3 The failure of a single group member can adversely affect the entire group iv Working 4 There are not many tasks that can be accomplished by a group without information advice support and assistance from all interdependent members 1 Work is the physical or mental effort you use when trying to accomplish something That something can be a social goal such as getting friends together for a surprise party a family goal such as deciding jointly where to go on vacation a medical team s goal such as planning training sessions for improving patient care or a management foal in which members develop a strategic plan for their organization 2 When we work effectively in groups we join others in a productive and motivating experience in which members combine their talents and energy to achieve a worthy goal 1 Group members come together for a reason Their collective reason or goal defines and unifies the group 2 A goal is he purpose or objective toward which group work is directed 3 While some groups have the freedom to develop their own goals other groups are assigned a goal 4 Whatever the circumstances effective groups work to accomplish a common goal v Common Goal 1 Purpose to provide members with affection support and a sense of belonging 2 Membership family members best friends ii Social Groups 1 Purpose To share common interests in a friendly setting or participate in social activities 2 Membership athletic team members hobbyists sorority and fraternity members iii Self Help Groups 1 Purpose To support and encourage members who want or need help with personal problems 2 Membership therapy group members participants in programs such as Weight Watchers or Alcoholics Anonymous iv Learning Groups 1 Purpose To help members gain knowledge and develop skills b Types of Groups i Primary Groups 2 Membership classmates book club members participants in a ceramics workshop or dance class stock investing clubs v Service Groups vi Civic Groups 1 Purpose to assist worthy causes that help other people 2 Membership members of Kiwanis police athletic outside the group league charity groups 1 Purpose To support worthy causes that help people within the group 2 Membership Members of PTA labor unions veterans groups community associations vii Work Groups viii Public Groups 1 Purpose To achieve specific goals on behalf of a business or organization 2 Membership members of work related project management teams committees task force members management team 1 Purpose to discuss important issues in front of or for the benefit of the public 2 Membership members of open to the public panel discussions forums and governance groups ix Not absolute groups they can overlap 3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in Groups when groups work together effectively efficiently and ethically they have the potential to outperform individuals working alone and can make significant contributions to the quality of our lives a Advantages i Superior Resources 1 Every group member brings a wide variety of resources to a group 2 Each member has different life experiences and unique perspectives ideas and information about a variety of issues These collective perspectives ideas and information are likely to result in better informed more meaningful and more effective group decision making and problem solving ii Member Satisfaction 1 The social benefits of group work can be just as important as task achievement 2 People belong to and work in groups because groups give them the opportunity to make friends socialize receive peer support and feel part of a unified and successful team 3 The more opportunities group members have to communicate with one another the more satisfied they are with the group experience iii Learning 1 Groups can enhance learning by sharing collective information stimulating critical thinking and challenging assumptions iv Cultural Understanding 1 Working effectively in groups requires that you understand respect and adapt to differences in members skills experiences opinions and behavior as well as differences in gender age race nationality ethnicity religion status and worldviews 2 By recognizing appreciating and adapting to member differences you can become a more effective communicator in your group and in your community your studies your work and your travels within this country or throughout the world v Creativity 1 Not only do groups perform better than individuals working alone they can also generate more innovative ideas and creative solutions 2 When you mix your thoughts with those of other group 3 members you increase the group s creative potential In addition to providing a creative multiplier