Effective Communication in Small Group Dynamics

1. Speaking in Small Groups

2. Objectives: Course Objective: Demonstrate effective communication Lesson Objectives: • Explain the characteristics of decision making • Describe ethics of group decision making • Describe roles • Explain group tension • Name the common formats

3. What are your experiences in working in small groups?

4. Decision Making Group Definition: a collection of there or more individual who share some problem and common goal. Critical Elements: • Size of group (3-10) • Mutual influence (affect & influence each other) • Goal orientation (common need)

5. Groups are everywhere. Name groups that you have been involved with.

6. Need for Small Groups • Groups provide more resources than individuals • Groups can control errors better than individuals • Quality is superior to individuals

7. Ethics of Decision Making Groups • Do your best • Behave rationally • Play fair • Listen carefully • Participate fully

8. Leadership • Helps indentify & understand problem • Keeps team on tasks • Guide members • Communicate & provide ideas

9. Participation Individually – on pages 210-211, • Name three of the roles that you have done in a group. • Describe how you performed the role Teams of three: • Discuss your results (similar or different) • How the different roles aid in decision making

10. Roles (group task) • Initiator-controller • Information seeker • Information giver • Opinion seeker • Opinion giver • Elaborator-clarifier • Coordinator • Diagnostician • Orienter-summarizer • Energizer • Procedure developer • Secretary • Evaluator-critic

11. Roles (social leadership) • Supporter-encourager • Harmonizer • Tension reliever • Compromiser • Gatekeeper • Feeling expresser • Standard setter • Follower

12. Counterproductive Roles • Blocker • Aggressor • Deserter • Dominator • Recognition seeker • Confessor • Playboy • Special interest pleader

13. How do you know when the group is breaking down & members are not satisfied?

14. Problems with member satisfaction Three factors to consider: • Perceived progress toward group goal • Perceived freedom to participate • Status consensus

15. What to do with conflict… • Stay in the present (search for solutions – NO blaming) • Separate the problem from the person • Talk about yourself, not another person • Look for solution in small steps • Work for an agreement

16. Groupthink How to avoid: • Assign a critical evaluator • Leaders wait to give preferences • Establish trust (to disagree) • Invite outsiders • Assign a devil’s advocate • Set aside time to evaluate if groupthink is happening

17. Questions to ask for decision making • Does everyone agree with the nature of the problem? • What would be the ideal solution? • Which conditions could be changed to achieve the ideal solution? • Of the available solutions, which one is the closest to the ideal solution?

18. Presenting a Group’s Findings • State purpose early • Preview main points • Present analysis of the problem & criteria for solution • Describe the solution (support with evidence) • Summarize • Ask for acceptance

19. Formats for Groups • Round table • Symposium • Panel discussion • Forum • Colloquium • Whole-house

20. For your information • Persuasive essay – due Dec 8 • Critical Thinking Portfolio – due Dec 8 • Extra credit – due Dec 10 FINAL is Dec 15 from 10-12

21. Oral Communication • Explain the importance of an audience-centered speech • Name the purposes of a speech • Develop an effective presentation

22. Speechmaking Process Consider the Audience

23. Consider the Audience Think about the audience throughout your speech!

24. Step 1: select & narrow your topic Questions to consider: • Who is the audience? • What is the occasion? • What are my interests, talents & experiences? • What are the parameters of the assignment?

25. Step 2: Determine Your Purpose

26. Step 3: Develop your central idea Topic: General purpose: Specific purpose: Central idea: Questions: • Does the central idea have logical divisions? • Can you support the central idea? • Can you provide reasons (examples) for the central idea?

27. Step 4: Generate main ideas After you have the Central Idea – generate Key Points. Questions: • Does the central idea have logical divisions? • Can you support the central idea? • Can you provide reasons (examples) for the central idea?

28. Step 5: Gather supporting materials • Facts • Examples • Definitions • Quotations • Personal stories • Descriptions • Visuals

29. Step 6: Organize Your speech Topic: General purpose: Specific purpose: Central idea: • Introduction (capture audience, preview main points, & tell audience what to expect) • Body (major idea & supporting idea with supporting items) • Conclusion (summarize & restate central idea)

30. Step 7: Rehearse Your Speech • Practice, Practice, Practice • Eye contact • Volume • Style • Mannerisms

31. Step 8: Deliver Your speech Your FINAL is an individual speech • 3 minutes using PowerPoint • Present what you have learned in UI100 May include: reasons for choosing SE; major: value of a liberal education; FOCUS; career planning; academic planning; reflection essays; personality; learning style; critical thinking; written communication; oral communication; strengths & future endeavors Relate what you have learned in class!!!

32. For your information • Extra credit – due Dec 10 FINAL is Dec 15 from 10-12