8.1: Guidelines for Effective Small Group Communication--Readings and Videos
- Page ID
- 248514
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Small Group Definition and its Leadership
Small group communications involve individuals that form a group of three (3) to twelve (12) individuals coming together to solve a particular issue, putting their thoughts, knowledge, and insights together, and formulating a common solution(s) to present to a class or to a management team. Each individual brings experiences and knowledge that can be contributed to deriving at a solution.
Solutions are highly sought out answers to help to alleviate issues that can improve the betterment of our community, our world. Coming up with solutions is the main focus of small group communication. There is a ‘coming of the minds’ that involves sharing, discussing, and evaluating proposed thoughts and suggestions that can then be mutually agreed upon for presentation. Sounds easy, huh?
You may ask, “What can I offer to a small group?” For one, participants in a small group are both listeners and speakers. Each participant must actively listen to the suggestions and thoughts proposed to be able to effectively evaluate those suggestions and thoughts. Just as the participants in a small group are active listeners, each one serves as a speaker on their thoughts and suggestions behalf. One must be able to verbally share thoughts and suggestions that will contribute to the solution being sought.
Within any context of a group, there is a leader that is either selected, implied, or emergent. The types of leaders are shown in Table 9.1:
|
Selected Leader |
A leader that is selected by the group with a majority vote. |
|
Implied Leader |
A leader that is identified through a person’s position, rank, expertise, or other qualities that the group bases its leadership role upon. |
|
Emergent Leader |
A leader that arises within the small group during the work of the group |
Table 9.1 Definitions of the Types of Leaders in a Small Group
The members of the group’s job are to determine which type of leader does the group have and identify that type of leadership. Leadership is always important in any group. The leader of the group, whether selected, implied, or emergent, must be a facilitator. Being a facilitator means to serve as a guide within the context of leading so that the job of the small group is easier and more likely to have an outcome that is useful to the audience or target group.
Once an individual commits to a small group, he/she/they are committed to the goals of the group, expected to fulfill the obligations that are committed to, avoid interpersonal conflicts, and remain on track to fulfill the task in which the group is assigned to complete. As the group moves along to arrive at solution(s) to the issue/problem, the reflective-thinking method that is derived from the American philosopher John Dewey should direct discussions to get to solutions. The reflective-thinking method involves the following five (5) steps:
1. Define the problem.
2. Analyze the problem.
3. Establish criteria for solving the problem.
4. Generate possible solutions.
5. Deciding on the best solution(s).
The article Advantages of Working in Groups in the Workplace provides an overview of how working in small groups are an advantage in the workplace to come up with solution(s) for clients and the company. The article How Diversity Makes us Smarter speaks to the present-day diverse populations in the world and how we can be more effective when thinking about solutions to issues. The article, Verbal Interaction and Learning in Peer-Directed Groups, helps communication students prepare to work in small groups to accomplish student learning outcomes surrounding small group communication.
The video presentations are to provide insight on small group communication and its effectiveness. The first video entitled, Group Communication Active Listening, focuses on active listening and the significance of active listening. The video, Effective Ways of Engaging in Small Group Networking Conversations, offer insight on how to navigate the system of small group communications. The video, Effective Small Group Communications, is a video presented by a college student in which she shares the responsibilities and mindset needed to participate in a small group for communication.
Enjoy your journey into small group communications. It can provide opportunities to share your insight, build your networking skills, and develop your interpersonal skills needed beyond the classroom.
Articles
Importance of small group communication. (use mla citations)
Frost, S. (2021). Advantages of working in groups in the workplace.
Phillips, Katherine W. (2014). How diversity makes us smarter. Scientific American. Vol. 311
Issue 4, p43-47. 5p.
Webb, N.M. (2001). Verbal interaction and learning in peer-directed groups. Theory in Practice,
Video Presentation
Group Communication Active Listening
https://youtu.be/X5eSYpegZ58?si=r2RhFAhYvIWfg158
Effective Ways tof Engaging in Small Group Networking Conversations
https://youtu.be/WO7AFZWjy0E?si=-eO5dHhzZy1bpEGj
Effective Small Group Communications