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Communication in Groups and Teams (The Nature of Groups and Teams (What…
Communication in Groups and Teams
The Nature of Groups and Teams
What Is a Group?
Group -
a small collection of people whose members interact with one another, usually face-to-face, over time in order to reach goals
"
Interaction
highlights the difference between between true groups and collections of individuals who merely co-act, simultaneously engaging in similar activity without communicating with one another."
"There is
interdependence
in a true group; the behavior of one person affects all the others (the ripple effect)"
"Most groups work together for an extended period of
time
to develop a sense of identity and history that shapes their ongoing effectiveness."
"A group is defined by its
size.
"
What Makes a Group Team?
Clear and Inspiring Shared Goals
A Results-Driven Structure
Competent Team Members
Unified Commitment
Collaborative Environment
External Support and Recognition
Standards of Excellence
Principled Leadership
Virtual Groups
Virtual Groups -
people who interact with one another via mediated channels, without meeting face-to-face
Pros and Cons
:check: Ease of assembly
:check: Partially levels status differences
:red_cross: Potential for disconnect
:red_cross: Less commitment/accountability
I was part of my English 10 group chat where we could help each other with our English-related problems.
WOL (Working Out Loud) cirlces
Goals of Groups and Their Members
Group Goals -
goals that a group collectively seeks to accomplish
Most groups exist to achieve a collective
task
.
Social goals
can equally important reasons for a group's existence.
Individual Goals -
individual motives for joining a group
Hidden Agenda -
individual goals that group members are unwilling to reveal
An egocentric group member whose primary goal is to hog the discussion
Social Loafing -
the tendency of some people to do less work as group members than they would as individuals
I have experienced being in groups with social loafers before.
An athlete's goal of achieve personal glory might damage the team's overall effectiveness.
Characteristics of Groups and Teams
Rules and Norms
Norms -
shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and procedures that govern a group's decision
Social Norms -
group norms that govern the way members relate to one another
[On-the-Job]
Use first names.
Procedural Norms -
norms that describe rules for the group's operation
[On-the-Job]
"We always start on time".
Task Norms -
group norms that govern the way members handle the job at hand
[On-the-Job]
"Does the job have to be done perfectly, or is an adequate, if imperfect, solution good enough?"
Group norms naturally emerge through in a process.
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
(functioning cohesively)
(finding a comfortable rhythm)
(experiencing conflict)
(coming together)
Rules -
an explicit, officially stated guideline that governs group functions and member behavior
[On-the-Job]
Attendance is required at meetings held every Monday morning at 9 AM.
Patterns of Interaction
Sociogram -
a graphic representation of the interaction patterns in a group
All-channel Network -
a communication network pattern in which group members are frequently together and share all information with one another
Chain Network -
a communication network in which information passes sequentially from one member to another
Wheel Network -
a communication network in which a
gatekeeper
regulates the flow of information from all other members
Gatekeeper -
person in a small group through whom communication among other members flows
Roles -
the patterns of behavior expected of group members
Formal Roles -
a role assigned to a person by group members or an organization, usually to establish order
Informal/Functional Roles -
a role usually not recognized by a group that describes functions of group members, rather than their positions
Task Roles -
roles group members take on in order to help solve a problem
Social/Maintenance Roles -
emotional roles concerned with maintaining smooth personal relationships among group members
Dysfunctional Roles -
individual roles played by group members that inhibit the group's effective operation
Avoiding Role-Related Problems
:star: Look for unfilled roles.
:star: Avoid role fixation.
:star: Avoid dysfunctional roles.
:star: Make sure unfilled roles are filled.
Leadership and Communication
Understanding Leadership
Trait Theories
Trait Theories of Leadership -
the school of thought based on the belief that some people are born to be leaders and others are not
Social scientists have found that there are many important factors in determining leader success and not everyone who possesses these traits becomes a leader.
Situational Approach
Situational Leadership -
a theory that argues that the most effective leadership style varies according to leader's power, and the task structure
Good listeners,
Open to innovation,
Able to work well with teams,
Good at facilitating change,
Appreciative of diversity,
Honest and ethical
Leadership Styles
Authoritarian Leadership -
a style in which the designated leader uses coercive and reward power to dictate the group's actions
Democratic Leadership -
a style in which the leader invites the group's participation in decision making
Laissez-Faire Leadership -
a style in which the designated leader gives up his or her formal role, transforming the group into a loose collection of individuals
Servant Leadership -
a style based on the idea that a leader's job is mostly to recruit outstanding team members and provide the support they need to do a good job
Dimensions of Leadership
Leadership Grid -
a two-dimensional model that identifies leadership styles as a combination of concern for people and for the tasks at hand
Impoverished Management -
Lack of interest in either tasks or relationships
Country Club Management -
High regard for relationships but give little or no attention to task fulfillment
Authority Obedience -
focus almost entirely on tasks and very little on relationships
Team Management -
High regard for both tasks and relationships
Middle-of-the-Road Management -
moderate interest in both tasks and relationships
Transformational Leadership
Transformational Leadership -
defined by their devotion to help a team fulfill an important mission
"Nelson Mandela exhibited the qualities of a transformational leader."
Becoming a Leader
Emergent Leaders -
a member who assumes leadership roles without being appointed by higher-ups
:star: Frequent participation
:star: Demonstrated Competence
:star: Assertion, not agression
:star: Support of other members
:star: Provide a solution in a time of crisis
Followership and Communication
Types of Followers
Isolates -
indifferent to the overall goals of the organization
Bystanders -
aware of whats going on but choose to hang back and watch
Participants -
attempt to have an impact
Activists -
more energetically/passionately engaged
Diehards -
unrivalled commitment/sacrifice
I usually fall into the participant/bystander type.
The Power of Followers
Power -
the ability to influence others' thoughts/actions
Legitimate Power -
the ability to influence a group owing to one's position in a group
Nominal Leader -
the person who is identified by title as the leader of a group
"supervisor"
"professor"
"coach"
Expert Power -
the ability to influence others by virtue of one's perceived expertise on the subject in question
Knowing the area can give you expert power.
"If you are lost in the woods, it makes sense to follow the advice of a group member who has wilderness experience."
Connection Power -
the influence granted by virtue of a member's ability to develop relationships that help the group reach its goal
"Fundraising groups seeking donations from local businesses might profit from the knowledge that one member has about which merchants are hospitable to the groups cause."
"A team seeking guest speakers at a seminar might rely on a well-connected member to line up the candidates."
Reward Power -
the ability to influence others by granting or promising of desirable consequences
Coercive Power -
the ability to influence others by the threat or imposition of unpleasant consequences
Referent Power -
the ability to influence others by virtue of the degree to which one is liked or respected
Characteristics of Power
Power is group centered.
Power is distributed among group members.
Power isn't an either-or concept.
What surprised you in the readings?
There was a lot of many new and very interesting things that I learned reading this chapter. I think if I had to pick one thing, I'm probably most surprised by the name of servant leadership, which at first glance, seems to be a very big oxymoron, but I better understood it once I read the definition.
What confused you or made you want to find out more?
I want to find out more about the applications of these sociograms and which type of communication network is most effective for in-group communication.
What bothered you?
It bothered me to read about social loafing, because it frustrates me to no end when an individual of a group is not pulling his or her weight to completing the goal.