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Small Group Communication

Do you know what small group communication is? What a small group is? What arethe types of groups? What are the blocks to effective communication in small groups.What effective small group communication is. How can effective communication ingroups be attained?What is a Small Group

small group can be defined as more than three people and !depending on thedefinition" #$ to #% and as many as $& people. 'f made up of $ or more than #$( #%( or $&

then it is not a group. There are different definitions as to how many make up a small

group.

What are the Types of GroupsThe types of small group communication depend on thepurpose of the group.)ask oriented groups are created for business( clubs( teams( organi*ations( union(charity( and religious groups. )ask oriented groups have a purpose of generating ideas(solving problems or promoting a cause.)his section focuses on task oriented groups. )here are other types of small groups.)he most common group is social. 't consists of friends who get together and en+oy eachothers company. )he communication needs are different from the needs of other groups.

Seminar groups are usually for education.)herapy groups are organi*ed to help with the management of mental health issues andchallenges. )he interaction( positive peer pressure( support and communication make iteasier to cope with day to day mental or emotional provocations.The Task Oriented Group)he task oriented groups re,uires uni,ue group communication skills. )he purpose of thegroup( the particular task or +ob to be done needs to take precedence over any personalagendas. Cooperation and accommodation skills are essential. )hese skills are notnecessary in personal communication or family communication.Parliamentary Rulesor parliamentary structure are how many task oriented groupsare structured. )his poses benefits and challenges.)he benefits allow minority opinions to be heard and the flow continue toward the endpurpose.

)he challenge is that the process can stifle free flow of ideas and inhibit reali*ation of thepurpose.Task Oriented Group Dynamics)he group will be made up of leaders( initiators and responders.Initiatorswill be the promoters and controllers of the group.)hey will get theconversation going by sharing facts( details( proposals and their knowledge.Respondersare the supporters and analysts. )hey will listen( summari*e( elaborate(evaluate( critici*e and ask ,uestions.Leadersserve in various capacities.create agendasset meeting timessets policyreports on progress of group

manages initiators and respondersarbitratesand other rolesBlocks to Effectie Small Group !ommunication)he obvious block is a failure to communicate. -ecause small group communication isfocused on a +ob to be done( any failure to be focused on that purpose will block effectivecommunication.)hese blocks to effective small group communication often result from putting individualneeds( desires or wants over the importance of the +ob to be done by the small group.ersonality patterns that cause the failure are often typical.ggressors)hese will often put their needs and wants over the goal of the small group.Defeatists

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Defeatists do not have faith in the ability of the group to succeed. )hey will paintthemselves as realists. )hey are often pessimists and unable to think outside the frameof defeat.Class Clown)he clown types have a need to entertain. )hey may want to entertain them selves orothers. /ither way( their need to clown around is more important than the +ob to be done.

StorytellersStorytellers have their own agenda of sharing. 'n nursing school( the story tellers hadrelatives who had virtually every disease we discussed in class. 't was ama*ing howmany relatives they had and that the student was even alive to share the story. s to the+ob to be done( they rarely can tell why the story has any relevance to the purpose of thegroup.Controller)hose controllers who are not assigned as the leaders will want to dominate and run theshow more than they want to fulfill the +ob to be done.0e1t we will consider what effective small group communication is. How can effectivecommunication in groups be attained?