Group and Team

Communication

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 1

Objectives

• How do groups and teams differ

• Potential limitations
• Potential strengths
• Barriers to effective team communication
• Develop effective team communication
• Group Dynamics

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 2

 All teams are groups,
but not all groups are teams.
• Group • Team
– Three or more people – Special kind of group
• Common goal • Different and
• Interact over time complementary
resources
• Depend on each other
• Strong sense of
• Follow shared rules
collective identity
• Diverse skills

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 3

 Strengths of Groups

1. Have greater resources

2. Are more thorough
3. Are more creative
4. Generate greater
commitment
Microsoft Photo

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 4

Potential limitations
• Group decisions take more time
• Conformity to pressure suppresses
individuality

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 Synergy

A special kind of energy that combines and

goes beyond the energies, talents and
strengths of individual members.

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 6

 Groupthink

Members may cease to think critically and

independently about ideas generated by a
group if they are too cohesive.

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 7

 Features of small groups
• Cohesion
• Sense of belonging
• shard identity,
• too much cohesion- group think
• Group size –ideal 5 to 7 members

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 8

Types of Communication in Groups

• Constructive
– Task
– Climate
– Procedural
• Dysfunctional
– Egocentric

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 9

Task Communication

• Initiates ideas
• Seeks information
• Gives information
• Elaborates ideas
• Evaluates, offers critical analysis

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 10

Climate Communication

• Establishes and maintains healthy climate

• Energizes group process
• Harmonizes ideas
• Recognizes others
• Reconciles conflicts
• Builds enthusiasm for group

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 11

Procedural Communication
• Establishes agenda
• Provides orientation
• Curbs digressions
• Guides participation
• Coordinates ideas
• Summarizes others’ contributions
• Records group progress

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 12

Egocentric Communication
• Aggresses toward others
• Blocks ideas
• Seeks personal recognition (brags)
• Dominates interaction
• Pleads for special interests
• Confesses, discloses, seeks personal help
• Disrupts task
• Devalues others
• Trivializes group and its work

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Small group power structure

• Power over- ability to help or harm others

• Power to- ability to empower others
• Distributed power structure
• Hierarchical power structure

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Group interactions

• Centralized- one or two people have most power

• Decentralized- members have relatively equal power

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Group norms

• Standardized guidelines
• Regulate behavior
• Regulate interaction

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 Teamwork
Create A Story”

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Group Dynamics

• The social process by which people

interact in a group environment
• The influences of personality, power and
behavior on the group process

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Group Development

Forming
Orientation, guidance (dependence)
Storming
Conflict, roles and responsibilities, rules and
procedures, individual recognition
(counterdependence)

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Group Development

Norming
Issue resolution, develop social agreements,
cohesion, establish group norms (interdependence)
Performing
Mutual assistance, creativity, understanding goals
and roles (independence)
Adjourning
Closure, symbolism, ceremonies, and emotional
support

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 Roles

Assigned roles
Chair, secretary, manager, treasurer, etc
Emergent roles
Confidant, group clown, gossip, mentor, etc

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Factors That Impact Effectiveness

Role Ambiguity
Worker is unclear of job definition
Role Conflict
Worker experiences job overlap

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Status

Symbolic
Office, administrative support, perks
Impact
Authority, hierarchy, decision-making,
rewards

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 • Team is a special type of group
• Consists of people with diverse skills
• Stronger sense of identity

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 24

 Team Defined
• A system of three or more individuals who
are focused on achieving a common
purpose and who influenced by each other
(Rothwell, 1989)

Dr. Mukami Njoroge

| 25
Why Teams?

• Good when performing complicated, complex, interrelated

and/or more voluminous work
• Good when knowledge, talent, skills, & abilities are
dispersed across members
• Empowerment and collaboration; not power and
competition
• Basis for total quality efforts

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 26

Team and teamwork

 Team
– A small group of people with complementary skills,
who work together to achieve a shared purpose and hold
themselves mutually accountable for performance
results.
 Teamwork
– The process of people actively working together to
accomplish common goals

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 27

Barriers to effective team
work

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 28

 How does a Team Work Best?
A Teams succeeds when its members have:
• a commitment to common objectives
• defined roles and responsibilities
• effective decision systems, communication and work
procedures
• good personal relationships

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 29

Team Morale Depends On

• Support
• Resources
• Communication
• Personalities

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 30

Teamwork Skills

• Listen
• Question
• Persuade
• Respect
• Help
• Share
• Participate

Dr. Mukami Njoroge | 31