1. Small Group & Leadership Notes

2. Small Group Comm. To learn skills we need to cooperate in an interdependent society
SHOULD be…
About 3-10 people
People who have a common goal/purpose
A cooperative environment
Should NOT be…
A competitive environment
Considered just a random bunch of people talking

3. Discussion Formats
Discussion: A cooperative exchange of information, opinions, and ideas. One of the best methods for solving problems.
Panel Discussion
A group of experts having a discussion on a topic in front of an audience
Symposium
Each expert gets up and gives a short speech on the topic
Town Hall Meeting
Meeting where everybody has the right and opportunity to talk
Deals with community related issues
Forum- added to any of these and means that the audience will be able to ask questions

4. Work Groups Goal: Cohesion Type of Group How is a group formed?
Working together; appropriate individual contributions to help reach the group goal, while maintaining professional relationships
Respect, Share and Support
Type of Group
Additive: all do the same task and then combine results
Conjunctive: all do different, but related, tasks… then bring together to accomplish a goal.
How is a group formed?
Emergent: naturally formed
Contrived: members were grouped together purposefully

5. Group Member Dynamics Roles Personalities Leader Recorder
Task/time Manager
Supporter
Spokesperson
Competitor
High energy, likes control
Compromiser
Meets in the middle
Collaborator
Idea person, indecisive
Gives in
“whatever you want”. No real opinions, will do what is told
Avoider
Skips, sleeps, doesn’t contribute

6. What is a leader?
Somebody who guides or directs others towards a common goal. Not the same as a boss.
Leaders should be concerned for their people but also be concerned with the work to be done.
The trick is balancing the attention a leader should pay to each
Leadership Styles
Autocratic: high focus on work, lower focus on people
Democratic: equal balance between work & people
Free-reign: high focus on people, lower focus on work

7. Conflict How can conflict benefit a small group? Differences valued
New ideas
Ways to overcome conflict and avoid fighting:
Active listening
Reversing roles
Avoid pushing buttons
Be Open-minded, Tolerant, and Empathetic

8. 6 Steps Decision Making Process
Goal
Criteria
Standards or rules
Collaborate/Brainstorm
Evaluate
Yes or No pile based on Criteria
Discuss & Decide (Group Consensus)
Vote (ballot, raise hands, verbal)
Random Selection (many good ideas & all will work)
Coin Toss (2 good ideas that will work)
Implement (carry it out)
If it’s said it is written down. NO DEBATE
NO DEBATE
DEFEND… Don’t ATTACK