1. MODULE 8 – GROUP COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Stage 1 – Leadership for Organisations

2. Module Overview Learning Objectives Learning Outcomes
To understand the drivers of effective communication.
To experience the importance of the group as a ‘multiplier’ of ideas and prospectives.
To learn and experience tools for different group interaction methods.
Learning Outcomes
Participants become aware of how to communicate more effectively and strengthen personal listening abilities
Participants understand the strengths and risks of different strategies that can be employed in approaching an argument.
Participants learn how to use the strategy for a given situation that would maximise chances of success.
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

3. Module Structure Interactive Introduction Group Exercise 1 – Role play
Individual Exercise – Assertiveness
Group Exercise 2
Group Exercise 3
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

4. Working Definitions Communication Active Listening Assertiveness
For the purpose of LAP ‘communication’ is intended as a 2-way process, not only about delivering messages in the most effective way but also about being able to understand what the other person is really saying.
Active Listening
According to the definition given by Carl Rogers, active listening implies a capacity of the listener to test constantly his/her ability to see the world in the way the speaker sees it. This is usually done by reflecting in the listener’s own words what the speaker seems to mean by his/her words and actions. The response to the listener’s hypothesis this will tell whether or not the speaker feels understood.
Assertiveness
The term “assertiveness” describes a form of communication of own needs and feelings in a way that is direct and respectful of others.
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

5. EXERCISES

6. Interactive Introduction
Exercise 1
Interactive Introduction
Work in pairs, talking to each other in turns (3 min. each), about any topic of your choice;
Introduction of the concept and practice of active listening;
Gather back in your couples and try to do the same exercise applying the principles of active listening.
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

7. Group Exercise 1 – Role play
In groups (of 11 persons, according to the number of participants, of which 9 are characters of the role play and 2 are observers) prepare a role play, according to instructions received;
Observer participants are asked to take notes on:
Which character dominated the discussion? Which one was less impacting?
What were the declared goals and possible hidden goals of each character?
In what ways was the interaction itself encouraged / impeded?
To what degree was the discussion successful to reach an agreement?
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

8. Individual Exercise – Assertiveness
Work individually on the assertiveness self-assessment.
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

9. Group Exercise 2 Exercise 4
Identify strengths and weakness of each strategy for managing conflict within a group, working in small groups (3-4 people).
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

10. Group Exercise 3 Exercise 5
Work in small groups to fill in Section 5.3 tables, imagining examples in which the use of a certain strategy might be useful/successful.
You can draw examples from your work experience or invent realistic situations where each strategy might apply.
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

11. ACTIVE LISTENING (previous materials)

12. Screening of information:
Barriers to listening
Screening of information:
With our attention
With our feelings
With our expectations
Our position distorts what we hear
We loose attention when:
Too much information
Too little new information
Not interesting
We are criticized
We have not enough time to think
75% of time for thinking and preparing answers….
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

13. Active listening Acknowledgement of the other Attentive silence
Questions
Paraphrasing
Mirroring feelings
Reflecting meanings
Linked reflections 13
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

14. Communicating for negotiating
Needs
Interests
Positions
POSITION-BASED
COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION
INTEREST BASED
COLLABORATIVE
NEGOTIATION
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Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

15. COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATION
Scale of listening
COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATION
COMPETITIVE
COMMUNICATION
5. Empathy listening 
4. Attentive listening
3. Selective listening
2. Pretend listening
1. Ignoring 15
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

16. Scale of communicating
COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATION
COMPETITIVE
COMMUNICATION
5. Synergy (transformation) 
4. Creative communications (exploration)
3. Communications compromise (transaction)
2. Defensive communications (contention)
1. Hostility (contention) 16
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills

17. Communicating to solve problems
5. Synergy on issue and relationship 
4. Compromise on issue; synergy on
relationship
3. Mutual understanding without
agreeing
2. Compromise
1. I win – you lose
COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING
COMPETITIVE
PROBLEM-SOLVING 17
Stage 1
Module 8 – Group Communication Skills