Chapter 5

Building Group Communication Competence

College students report

Ideal group member

Competent communicator Possess desirable relational skills Participates in group interaction Ability to create relationships with other group members Ability to work cooperatively and productively on tasks

Common group member deficiencies

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The Effect of your Communication

How you communicate in a group affects

How others evaluate your worth as a group member How your identity and role develops within the group

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Team Member Competencies

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Task relevant knowledge, technical skill Communication competence Degree to which member values teamwork Members like or dislike of working in groups

Values, beliefs, and attitudes

Personality traits, cognitive and behavioral styles

Extraversion, cognitive complexity, aggresiveness

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Your Group Interaction Style

Each group member brings unique set of communication skills
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Interpersonal needs Communication competence Communication apprehension Attitude towards groups Communicator style

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Interpersonal Needs

Three basic needs

1. 2. 3.

Inclusion Control Affection Can be expressed by you (sender role) Can be wanted by you (receiver role)

Evident in group interaction

1.

2.

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Need Compatibility

Achieved when there is a balance among group members

Who want to express a need Who want to receive a need

Number of members expressing and wanting does not need to be equal Incompatibility must be worked through

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Communication Competence

Ability and willingness to participate responsibility Effectiveness

Goal is achieved

Appropriateness

Do not violate behavioral expectations or

other members self-esteem

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Achieving Competence
1.

2.

3.

Can you comprehend the group situation and its dynamics? Are you sensitive to the feelings of others? Do your verbal and nonverbal skills contribute to the groups conversation

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Communication Apprehension

Fear or anxiety about communicating Real or anticipated May be perceived as shy or reticent Apprehension affects

Participation in the group Others evaluation of contributions Self-perceptions

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Your Attitude Toward Groups

Grouphate

Negative feelings that cause an individual to

dislike working with others in group settings Captures the tension between an individuals preference for working alone and working with others Can be minimized when members have positive group experiences

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Communicator Style

Your verbal and nonverbal impression Sends signals about how to interpret message content Each characteristic can be effective or ineffective Whats your predominant communicator style?

How effective are you? How flexible are you?

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Communicator Style Characteristics

Animated Attentive Contentious Dominant Dramatic

Friendly Open Precise Relaxed

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Ethical Group Membership

Caring

Concerned about the well-being of other

members

Responsibility
outcomes

Group members share responsibility for group

You are responsible for and to every other group member

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Communicating in Diverse Groups

Differences create variety and multiple perspectives Individuals differ on multiple dimensions Not all types of diversity affect group interaction in the same way All differences are not differences that stem from diversity
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Overcoming Diversity Problems

Problems

Solutions

Unequal participation

Deny diversity matters

Practicing segregation

Monitor your communication Use decision procedures Build cohesion Focus on goal Explore similarities Emphasize personal identity
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Principles of Ethical Group Membership

Be candid and frank Maintain valued relationships vs. saying whats on your mind Give information without distortion or exaggeration Do not cut off other members from speaking
more
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Principles of Ethical Group Membership

Be trustworthy and extend trust Avoid coercion and manipulation in decision making Be responsible for defending decisions of the group to others

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