1. Small Group Communication

2. What is Small-Group Communication?
3-9 people
Over 10
-Several members don’t participate
-Sub-groups
Ideal Group Size
-4.6 people. (Hackman and Vidmar, 1970) 

3. Small Group Functions
Task-oriented groups
Relationship-oriented groups
Assigned groups
Emergent groups
Small Group Types

4. What is Leadership?
A process of using communication to influence the behaviors and attitudes of others to meet group goals

5. Types of Leaders Types of Small Group Leaders Appointed leaders
Emergent leaders

6. How Leaders Emerge Initiative Expectations Rising to occasion
Cultural norms
Experience/Position
Age
Gender
Personality

7. How Leaders Maintain Reward Punishment Charisma Trustworthiness Skill
Knowledge

8. Leadership Styles
Democratic leaders
Laissez-faire leaders
Autocratic leaders

9. Group Culture Norms Member Roles Informal rules for interaction
Formal Roles
Vice Presidents
Historian
Behavioral Roles
Task functions
Maintenance functions
Self-centered functions

10. Task Roles Accomplish goals Examples of Task Roles
1. Leader - helps the group define and achieve goals. 2. Initiator - contributor: Offers ideas and suggestions. 3. Opinion seeker – requests info 4. Information giver 5. Secretary – recorder 6. Devil’s advocate – prevents “group think”
7. Worker Bee – ready to follow

11. Maintenance Roles Maintain morale Examples of Maintenance roles
1. Encourager – provides emotional warmth, praise and acceptance 2. Harmonizer – help people connect and help resolve social conflicts 3. Feeling Expresser – monitors feelings and moods of the group and gives feedback.
4. Morale Builder – maintains positivity through socializing and outlook.

12. Self-Serving Roles Negatively affect group
Examples of Self-Serving Roles 1. Stagehog – recognition seeker 2. Isolate – withdraws from the group 3. Clown – horseplay, practical jokes, comic routines that goes beyond tension reliever. 4. Blocker/Cynic – opposes everything new/displays sour outlook 5. Fighter – starts arguments, bullying.  

13. Conflict Management Styles

14. Stages of Group Development
The group knows its purpose and roles well and it’s nearly 2nd nature.
Normal behaviors are starting
Conflict over purpose, leadership, roles, norms
Awkward
No clear leaders or rolesd

15. Group Pros and Cons Cons Pros More ideas = Standstill
Can slow process down
Groupthink
Pros
- More ideas = Better ideas
Can speed process up
Unity, Accountability