Communicating in Groups Chapter 9

LO1 • Effective work group

LO2 • Stages of group development

LO3 • Different types of groups (work groups)

LO4 • Evaluate a group’s performance

LO1 • Effective work group

LO2 • Stages of group development

LO3 • Different types of groups (work groups)

LO4 • Evaluate a group’s performance

How do we maximize group

effectiveness?

Define “Group”

3 or more people

Interact and influence

Common purpose

What do you dislike about working in a

group?

Do you think that is “normal”??

Healthy Groups

…have ethical goals.

…are interdependent.

…are cohesive.

…develop and abide by

productive norms.

…are accountable.

…are synergetic.

1. Ethical Goals

Do not require members to behave in

ways that • Are not in their interest

• Could harm them

Groups can create unethical culture

2. Interdependent

All parts are needed

All people are needed to complete

different parts

Goes against our cultural teachings

3. Cohesive

“Attractiveness” of the group

Voluntary membership

Feeling free to share opinions*

Support, encouragement*

◦ Listening skills, feedback, respect

Achieves goals / accomplishment*

4. Productive Norms

Norms: Expectations for behavior

◦ Formal “Ground rules”

◦ Informal

Counter-productive norms?

Productive norms?

5. Accountability

Responsible for adhering to norms

Violating a norm = Sanction

Addressing counterproductive norms

6. Synergy

Group outcome is greater than individual

outcome

LO1 • Effective work group

LO2 • Stages of group development

LO3 • Different types of groups (work groups)

LO4 • Evaluate a group’s performance

Stages of Group Development

Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning

Forming:

•Uncertainty

•Orientation – “get to know you”

•Testing

Forming – Tips:

• Positive

• Good attitude

• Appropriate self-disclosure

• Avoid disagreeable comments

• Relax

Storming:

• Begin to make decisions

• Conflict

• Power plays

• Disagreements

• “Too much” – what happens?

Storming:

•“Groupthink”

Storming – Tips:

•Encourage discussion

•Avoid rude language or nonverbals

•Use listening skills

Norming:

• Rules for behavior become more clear

• Increased cohesion

• Collaboration

• Emerging trust

• Motivation to achieve group goal.

Performing:

• Begin to meet goals

• Conversations focus on tasks

• Less energy toward “norms”

• Harmony, productivity, problem-solving

• Shared leadership

Adjourning:

•Goal accomplishment

•Celebration

•Disengagement

LO1 • Effective work group

LO2 • Stages of group development

LO3 • Different types of groups (work groups)

LO4 • Evaluate a group’s performance

Work group:

Group of people formed to solve a

problem or accomplish a task

Goals Size

Members Task-

oriented

Goals

•Clear

•Specific

•Challenging

•Motivating

Size

• Discussion time

• Complexity of issue

• Communication skills of members

• Typically 3-5

Members

• Diverse

• Different knowledge, skills

• Organization – may need representation from different areas

Tasks

• Seek collaboration to resolve conflict

• Update members on status of individual efforts

• Appropriately credit member contributions

LO1 • Effective work group

LO2 • Stages of group development

LO3 • Different types of groups (work groups)

LO4 • Evaluate a group’s performance

Group dynamics

The way a group interacts to achieve its goal.

Effective groups evaluate how their interactions affect their accomplishments, and how members relate to each other.

LO1 • Effective work group

LO2 • Stages of group development

LO3 • Different types of groups (work groups)

LO4 • Evaluate a group’s performance