Communicating in Groups Prepared by Kim Soltysik RN MScN

Outline For Lecture Objectives Overview Actions Guidelines

Overview Overview of what Relational Caring Working In Groups Recognize relational capacities. What skills are required for Relational Nursing Practice Groups

What is Relational Practice? Is the humane process of respectful, compassionate and authentic interest of inquiry onto another’s (and one’s own) experiences. Hartrick Doane (2002) It requires personal disclosure, the person must be open to be in “the moment”

Skills of Relational Practice Let it be – don’t act to seek change. Use techniques that demonstrate “presence”.(eye contact, touch) Listening – hearing, not judging, not directing, no dominating. Wait your turn. Observe what is going on with the person speaking, how is that affecting you? Look for meaning – beyond the surface. Intentionality. Identify with family for the greater understanding Reimage the actual person/group.

Guide lines Try to gain an understanding of the other person. Clarify what has meaning for the other person. Realize their own choices and their power to create their own change. Respect and try to act on their choices.

Groups – why, why, why? Your life and career is now and always will require interaction with other people – mostly in the form of groups. Family life, social life, work life all take place in a group. It important to know how to work in groups to be effective in life.

Introvert vs. Extrovert Introverts Feel comfortable in thinking before they talk and contemplate before sharing ideas. Extroverts Enjoy fast- paced conversations and quick exchanges of partially formed ideas.

Introverts Use fewer and more measured words when speaking Prefer not to share ideas until fully formed Tend to not respond quickly to questions, because they wait to give their best answers.

Extroverts Extroverts get excited about their ideas and do their best work when allowed to talk them through to conclusion. These people feel comfortable in sharing ideas to get the reactions of others. This does not mean they believe what they say “devils advocate.”

Introverts : The Giraffe can only reach the tender leaves by sticking its neck out.

Extroverts – just a thought It has been estimated that we have 1500 thoughts per day! There is no need to share everyone

Success Success is knowing the difference between cornering people and getting them in your corner Bill Copeland

Group think Definition When a group dynamic in which loyalty to the group and group approval, members are afraid to express conflicting ideas and opinions = Power over Practice! Him-m-m Can you think of examples of when individuals have surrendered to the power of a group to be loyal and smooth things over?

Types of Leader Roles – group conveners Transactional leaders :focus on contracts and contractual agreements. Manager: Managers focus on daily operations in real time. Often seen as the middle man Transformational leaders: focus on empowering others to higher levels of motivation. Great leaders.

Leaders (continued) Authoritarian: Leaders who lead with strong control, allow for little input and provide few options. Leaders who lead with little control use are said to be laissez-faire style. Do you know your style?

Functional Task Roles of Group Members Initiator Informer, seeker, giver. Elaborator Orienter Energiser Procedure technician Recorder

Maintenance Roles Encourager Harmonizer Compromiser Standard setter Commentator Follower

Non – productive group behaviours Aggressor – Critical and attacks others Blocker – Rejects ideas or argues them to death. Joker - Disruptive, fails to take tasks seriously. Avoider- Whispers, day dreams, doodles, univolved in the group. Self confessor – Uses the group to discuss personal issues or views unrelated to group. Recognition seeker: seeks attention, grand stands, may seem odd seeking the leaders favor

Group Development Forming: Why? Storming: What to do? Norming: Others expectation? Performing:My role? Adjourning: Next?

Challenger Disaster Was it group think?