Small Group Communication

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Small Group Communication

• As it relates to Theatre Production

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What is Small Group Communication?
The four basic characteristics of a small group
- three or more people
- face-to-face interaction
- a span of time
- a common goal or task
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Why Work in Small Groups?
Groups usually produce more and better solutions
to problems than do individuals working alone.
Shaw, M. E. Group Dynamics the Psychology of
Small Group Behavior. 2nd ed. New York
McGraw-Hill, 1976
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Types of Small Groups
Task-Oriented
Factors of Productivity
Task Demand
Group Size
Resources
Group Composition
Process
Potential Payoff
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Task Demand
Are the demands of the production or season
equivalent to our current ability?
Do we have enough time available to examine all
the issues, acquire information, and consider all
alternatives?
Will we need any special tools or training in
order to accomplish this?
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Resources
Do we have the right type and quantities of
materials?
Do we have adequate human resources (skill level
and number)?
Do we have the money to acquire either/both of
these resources?
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Process
How are we planning?
How are we implementing our plans?
Are we adapting our plan to meet new challenges
or needed changes?
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Group Size
Are we too small and feel the project is too
large for us to meet?
Are we too large and feel that the level of
involvement from all members is varying?
As the group size increases, are we
1) creating more complex and indirect
communication patterns
2) meeting the level or organization needed to
fit the group size
3) losing productivity due to fewer demands on
individuals
4) losing personal satisfaction in the process
due to accomplishments feeling watered-down
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Group Composition
How different are the members in terms of
education, race, gender, prior experiences, skill
sets, and attitudes?
How can we use these differences to work to our
advantage?
How are these differences affecting the group
dynamics?
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Potential Payoff
What is the reward for the group and the
individual?
Is the payoff worth working within the group?
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Follow the Leader
What is a leader?
A leader is essentially defined as one who can
influence a group to develop something which
would not have happened had the leader not been
present.
Seaman, Don F. Working Effectively with
Task-Oriented Groups. New York McGraw-Hill, 1981.
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Leadership in the Small Group
3 Common Styles of Leadership
1) Authoritarian- My way or the highway
2) Democratic- All for one, and one for all
3) Laissez-faire- If it aint broke, dont fix
it
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Basic Qualities for Leadership
1) Knowledge of the group process
2) Ability to think quickly
3) Language and speech skills
4) Knowledge of the subject
5) Sensitivity to group trends
6) Self-restraint and respect for others
7) Ability to verbalize sentiments
8) Ability to clarify
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Group Climate
Group Climate refers to the atmosphere in which
the group interacts with each other.
Supportive Climates
Defensive Climates
Evaluation Description
Control Problem Orientation
Strategy Spontaneity
Neutrality Empathy
Superiority Equality
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Conflict
Oxford American Dictionary describes
conflict as a disagreement between people with
different ideas or beliefs
Conflict is not really harmful to the group as
long as it fosters creative discussions about the
task to be accomplished.

• Conflict can be detrimental to a group when it
• Prohibits the group from completing its task
• Interferes with the quality of the groups
  decision
• Threatens the existence of the group

Seaman, Don F. Working Effectively with
Task-Oriented Groups. New York McGraw-Hill, 1981.
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Reasons for Conflict
Differences in Personality
Differences in Perception
Differences in Information
Differences in Power or Influences
Conflict can be directed at people, ideas or both.
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Differences in Language and Thought
We assimilate information different ways
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Types of Conflict
Pseudo-Conflict
Simple Conflict
Ego Conflict
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How to spot Conflict
1) Members are impatient with each other
2) Ideas are attacked before they are completely
expressed
3) Members take sides and refuse to compromise
4) Members disagree on plans or suggestions
5) Comments and suggestions are made with a great
deal of vehemence
6) Members attack each other on a personal level
in subtle ways
7) Members insist that the group doesnt have the
knowledge or experience
8) Members feel the group cannot get ahead
because its too large or too small
9) Members disagree with the leaders suggestions
10) Members accuse each other of not
understanding the real point
11) Members hear distorted fragments of each
others contributions
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Why does Conflict exist?

1. The group feels they have been given a task which
   seems impossible, and members are frustrated
   because they feel unable to meet the demands made
   of them.
2. The main concern of members is to attain status
   in the group.
3. Members are loyal to outside groups of
   conflicting interests.
4. Members feel involved and are working too hard on
   a problem.

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Questions to Ask

• Is the task too large or impossible for the
  group?
• Are the members clear about the task? Is there
  any confusion?
• Do members not agree with the groups decisions?
• Are members involved for status reasons?
• Do all members wish to be a part of the group?
• Does every member have the pertinent information
  needed?
• Is the conflict destructive or is it fostering
  ideas?
• Are there any hidden agendas within the group?
• Are members apathetic about the work at hand?

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Myths about Conflict
Myth 1 Conflict should be avoided at all costs
Myth 2 All Conflict occurs because people do
not understand each other
Myth 3 All conflicts can be resolved
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Groupthink
Groupthinkthe illusion of agreement. This
occurs when a group strives to minimize conflict
and reach a consensus without critically testing,
analyzing, and evaluating ideas
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Non-Verbal Communication
Vocalics-sounds a person makes that accompany his
or her verbal messages (also called paralanguage)
Kinesics-body language
Eye Behavior
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As a Leader
Pick an appropriate room size
Pick appropriate type of room and style
Engage others in eye contact
Encourage non talkers out of corners
Phrase questions so they require more than a
yes/no answer
Be controversial
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Bibliography
Beebe, Steven A., John T. Masterson,
Communicating in Small Groups Principles and
Practices, 4th Ed. Harper Collins College
Publishers, New York, 1994  Bertcher, Harvey J.
Group Participation Techniques for Leaders and
Members,. 2nd Ed. Sage Publications, Thousand
Oaks, 1994  Book, Cassandra, Kathleen Galvin,
Instruction in and about Small Group Discussion,
Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC),
Urbana, IL, 1975  Cragan, John F., David W.
Wright, Communication in Small Group Discussions
A Case Study Approach. West Publishing Co. St.
Paul, MN 1980  Hare, A. Paul, Creativity in
Small Groups, Sage Publications, Beverly Hills,
1982  Hartley, Peter, Group Communication,
Routledge, New York, 1997  Seaman, Don F.
Working Effectively with Task-Oriented Groups,
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1981  Shaw,
M. E., Group Dynamics the Psychology of Small
Group Behavior. 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill Book
Company, New York, 1976  Ulschak, Francis L.,
Leslie Nathanson, Peter G. Gillian, Small Group
Problem Solving An Aid to Organizational
Effectiveness,. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.
1981