COMMUNICATION WITHIN GROUPS Joining Together Group Theory and

COMMUNICATION WITHIN GROUPS Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills 11 th Edition David W. Johnson Frank P. Johnson

Group Communication Broad definition: Any verbal or nonverbal behavior perceived by other group members More commonly defined as: a message sent by a group member to one or more receivers with the conscious intent of affecting the receivers’ behavior. Effective communication: the receivers interpret the message the same way as the sender intended it. Complexity of multiperson communication Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -2

The Group Communication Process Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -3

Sending Messages Effectively Clearly own your message (I, my) Make your message clear and complete Make your verbal and nonverbal messages congruent Be redundant Check for understanding Consider the receiver’s frame of reference Describe other’s behaviors without interpreting/evaluating Describe your feelings by name/action/figure of speech Consider your credibility Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -4

Receiving Messages Effectively Paraphrase the content of the message accurately and without evaluating it Describe your perceptions of the sender’s feelings Negotiation the meaning of the sender’s message until there is agreement Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -5

Communication In Problem-Solving Groups Problem solving effectiveness is determined by the pattern of communication Three views of communication patterns: • Interaction analysis • One- and two-way communication in authority hierarchies • Communication networks Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -6

Interaction Analysis Three levels: • Relative frequency and length of communication • Who communicates to whom • Who triggers whom and in what ways Bales’ (1953) Equilibrium theory and Interaction-Process Analysis Homans’ (1950) theory of the balance activity between external and internal systems Gouran and Hirokawa (1996) -- promotive and counteractive functions of communication Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -7

Communication Networks Communication networks influence • The emergence of leadership • How the organization develops • The morale of group members • The efficiency of problem solving The complexity of the task determines which network is more efficient Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -8

Communication Patterns in Authority Hierarchies Communication network determines the amount and type of information members receive from each other. Communication is selective! Informal communication network • Information gatekeepers • Technological gatekeepers Formal communication network • One-way communication with or without feedback – Processes: ○ Leveling ○ Sharpening ○ Assimilation • Two-way communication – Establish cooperative group climate – Promote the attitude that all members’ ideas are of interest Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -9

Influences on the Effectiveness of Group Communication Group climate • Competitive – defensive communication • Cooperative – more accurate and complete Group norms Physical setting Seating arrangements – group ecology Humor Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -10

Summary Group communication: when group members send messages to each other with the conscious intent of affecting each other’s behavior. Sending and receiving skills Analysis of communication patterns: • Interaction analysis • One- and two-way communication in authority hierarchies • Communication networks The more cooperative the climate in the group, the more effective communication tends to be. Johnson. Joining Together: Group Theory and Group Skills, 11 e. © 2013, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4 -11