Small Group Communication

Do you know what small group communication is? What a small group is? What are the types of groups? What are the blocks to effective communication in small groups. What effective small group communication is. How can effective communication in groups be attained? What is a Small Group small group can be defined as more than three people and !depending on the definition" #$ to #% and as many as $& people. 'f made up of $ or more than #$( #%( or $& then it is not a group. There are different definitions as to how many make up a small group. What are the Types of Groups The types of small group communication depend on the purpose of the group. )ask oriented groups are created for business( clubs( teams( organi*ations( union( charity( and religious groups. )ask oriented groups have a purpose of generating ideas( solving problems or promoting a cause. )his section focuses on task oriented groups. )here are other types of small groups. )he most common group is social. 't consists of friends who get together and en+oy each others company. )he communication needs are different from the needs of other groups. Seminar groups are usually for education. )herapy groups are organi*ed to help with the management of mental health issues and challenges. )he interaction( positive peer pressure( support and communication make it easier to cope with day to day mental or emotional provocations. The Task Oriented Group )he task oriented groups re,uires uni,ue group communication skills. )he purpose of the group( the particular task or +ob to be done needs to take precedence over any personal agendas. Cooperation and accommodation skills are essential. )hese skills are not necessary in personal communication or family communication. Parliamentary Rules or parliamentary structure are how many task oriented groups are structured. )his poses benefits and challenges. )he benefits allow minority opinions to be heard and the flow continue toward the end purpose. )he challenge is that the process can stifle free flow of ideas and inhibit reali*ation of the purpose. Task Oriented Group Dynamics )he group will be made up of leaders( initiators and responders. Initiators will be the promoters and controllers of the group.)hey will get the conversation going by sharing facts( details( proposals and their knowledge. Responders are the supporters and analysts. )hey will listen( summari*e( elaborate( evaluate( critici*e and ask ,uestions. Leaders serve in various capacities. create agendas set meeting times sets policy reports on progress of group manages initiators and responders arbitrates and other roles Blocks to Effecti e Small Group !ommunication )he obvious block is a failure to communicate. -ecause small group communication is focused on a +ob to be done( any failure to be focused on that purpose will block effective communication. )hese blocks to effective small group communication often result from putting individual needs( desires or wants over the importance of the +ob to be done by the small group. .ersonality patterns that cause the failure are often typical. ggressors )hese will often put their needs and wants over the goal of the small group. Defeatists

Defeatists do not have faith in the ability of the group to succeed. )hey will paint themselves as realists. )hey are often pessimists and unable to think outside the frame of defeat. Class Clown )he clown types have a need to entertain. )hey may want to entertain them selves or others. /ither way( their need to clown around is more important than the +ob to be done. Storytellers Storytellers have their own agenda of sharing. 'n nursing school( the story tellers had relatives who had virtually every disease we discussed in class. 't was ama*ing how many relatives they had and that the student was even alive to share the story. s to the +ob to be done( they rarely can tell why the story has any relevance to the purpose of the group. Controller )hose controllers who are not assigned as the leaders will want to dominate and run the show more than they want to fulfill the +ob to be done. 0e1t we will consider what effective small group communication is. How can effective communication in groups be attained?