Engl Creative Paper
Human Communication The Basic Course 14th edition
Chapter 11
Members and Leaders
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Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Learning Objectives
11.1 Define and give examples of group task roles, group building and maintenance roles, and individual roles and identify the suggestions for effective group membership.
11.2 Define leadership; distinguish among the traits, functional, transformational, and situational approaches; and identify the suggestions for effective group leadership.
11.3 Explain the impact of culture on small group membership and leadership behavior.
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Membership in Small Group Communication 1 of 9
L.O. 11.1 Define and give examples of group task roles, group building and maintenance roles, and individual roles and identify the suggestions for effective group membership.
Member Roles
Group Task Roles
| Initiator-Contributor | Coordinator |
| Information seeker | Orienter |
| Opinion seeker | Evaluator-Critic |
| Information giver | Energizer |
| Opinion giver | Procedural technician |
| Elaborator | Elaborator |
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Membership in Small Group Communication 2 of 9
Member Roles continued
Group Building and Maintenance Roles
| Encourager | Standard setter |
| Harmonizer | Group observer and commentator |
| Compromiser | Follower |
| Gatekeeper-expediter | blank |
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Membership in Small Group Communication 3 of 9
Member Roles continued
Individual Roles
| Aggressor | Playboy/playgirl |
| Blocker | Dominator |
| Recognition seeker | Help seeker |
| Self-confessor | Special interest pleader |
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Group Roles in Interpersonal Relationships
Can you identify roles that you habitually or frequently serve in certain groups? Do you serve these roles in your close interpersonal relationships as you do in your workplace relationships?
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Can you identify roles that you habitually or frequently serve in certain groups? Do you serve these roles in your close interpersonal relationships as you do in your workplace relationships?
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Membership in Small Group Communication 4 of 9
Interaction Process Analysis
Social-emotional positive contributions
Social-emotional negative contributions
Attempted answers
Questions
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Table 11.1 Interaction Process Analysis Form
| blank | blank | Joe | Judy | Liz | Mike | Peg |
| Social–Emotional Positive Contributions | Shows solidarity | |||||
| Shows tension release | ||||||
| Shows agreement | ||||||
| Social–Emotional Negative Contributions | Shows disagreement | |||||
| Shows tension | ||||||
| Shows antagonism | ||||||
| Attempted Answers | Gives suggestions | |||||
| Gives opinions | ||||||
| Gives information | ||||||
| Questions | Asks for suggestions | |||||
| Asks for opinions | ||||||
| Asks for information |
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Membership in Small Group Communication 5 of 9
Member Functions and Skills
Be Group or Team Oriented
Center Conflict on Issues
Be Critically Open-Minded
Ensure Understanding
Beware of Groupthink
Groupthink: a way of thinking that people use when agreement among members has become excessively important
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Membership in Small Group Communication 6 of 9
Member Functions and Skills continued
Beware of Groupthink continued
Symptoms of groupthink:
Illusion of invulnerability
Avoidance
Assumption of morality
Intolerance of differences of opinion
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Membership in Small Group Communication 7 of 9
Member Functions and Skills continued
Symptoms of groupthink continued
Self-censorship
Assumption of unanimity
Gatekeeping
Peer pressure
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Membership in Small Group Communication 8 of 9
Member Functions and Skills continued
From Member to Leader
Listens to all members equally and gives positive listening cues
Gives positive affiliative cues
Is prepared and demonstrates this through knowledge of the issues and the members
Positively reinforces other members
Shows flexible strength
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Membership in Small Group Communication 9 of 9
Member Functions and Skills continued
From Member to Leader continued
Responsive to conversational signals from other members
Culturally sensitive and avoids stereotypes and –isms
Displays traits associated with leadership
Focuses criticisms and conflict on issues rather than people
Is fair and treats others and their positions as important to the group
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Leadership in Small Group Communication 1 of 6
L.O. 11.2 Define leadership and distinguish among the traits, functional, transformational, and situational approaches; and identify the suggestions for effective group leadership.
Leadership
The process of influencing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of group members
The process of empowering others
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Leadership in Small Group Communication 2 of 6
Myths about Leadership
Leaders are rare.
Leaders are born.
All leaders are charismatic.
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Leadership in Small Group Communication 3 of 6
Approaches to Leadership
Traits Approach: leaders must possess certain traits to function effectively
Empathy
Courage
Dependability
Credibility
Stewardship
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Leadership in Small Group Communication 4 of 6
Approaches to Leadership continued
Functional Approach
Focuses on what a leader should do in a given situation
Transformational Approach
Leader elevates the group’s members
Situational approach
Focuses on accomplishing the task and ensuring the satisfaction of group members
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Gender Differences
Do you find that women and men respond similarly to the different leadership styles? Do women and men exercise the different leadership styles with equal facility, or are women more comfortable and more competent in certain leadership styles and men more comfortable and competent in other styles?
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Do you find that women and men respond similarly to the different leadership styles? Do women and men exercise the different leadership styles with equal facility, or are women more comfortable and more competent in certain leadership styles and men more comfortable and competent in other styles?
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Table 11.3 Leadership Styles 1 of 2
| Style | Leadership Focus | Uses |
| Telling Style | This leader focuses almost exclusively on the task and offers little, if any, relationship support. | Appropriate for a group that lacks knowledge of the issues involved and needs the direct guidance of a leader who tells the members what they should do. |
| Selling Style | This leader is a persuasive one, giving specific guidance on the task and also relationship support. The aim is to get the group members to “buy into” the ideas and to do as directed. | Appropriate for a group that is trying hard but still lacks the needed skills or information to accomplish their task. |
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Table 11.3 Leadership Styles 2 of 2
| Style | Leadership Focus | Uses |
| Participating Style | This leader relies heavily on communicating, facilitating, and encouraging group members. This leader participates in the group’s problem solving but provides little direction. | Appropriate for groups that know what to do but may not be so willing to do it. |
| Delegating Style | This leader monitors and observes, rather than provides direction or relationship support. | Appropriate for groups that know what to do and are eager to do it. |
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Leadership in Small Group Communication 5 of 6
Functions and Skills of Leadership
Organize
Consider Individual Strengths and Needs
Activate the Group Agenda
Promote Group Interaction
Ask questions.
Summarize.
Set an agenda.
Focus your attention.
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Leadership in Small Group Communication 6 of 6
Functions and Skills of Leadership continued
Empower Group Members
Raise the person’s self-esteem.
Share skills.
Be constructively critical.
Encourage growth.
Avoid micromanaging.
Follow Up
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Group Polarization
Groups frequently make more extreme decisions than individuals—a tendency known as group polarization (Brauer, Judd, & Gliner, 1995; Bullock, et al., 2002; Friedkin, 1999). For example, a group will take greater risks if the individual members are already willing to take risks (a condition known as the “risky shift phenomenon”) or will become more cautious if the members are already cautious. What are some advantages of group polarization? Disadvantages?
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Groups frequently make more extreme decisions than individuals—a tendency known as group polarization (Brauer, Judd, & Gliner, 1995; Bullock, et al., 2002; Friedkin, 1999). For example, a group will take greater risks if the individual members are already willing to take risks (a condition known as the “risky shift phenomenon”) or will become more cautious if the members are already cautious. What seems to happen is that as a group member you estimate how others in the group feel about risk taking. If you judge the group as one of high-risk takers, you’re likely to become more willing to take risks than you were before the group interaction. Similarly, if you judge the group members as cautious and as low-risk takers, you’ll become even more cautious than you were before the interaction. In other words—and not surprisingly—your own attitudes toward risk will be heavily influenced by the attitudes you think the group possesses. Further, you’re likely to change your attitudes to more closely match those of the group. What are some advantages of group polarization? Disadvantages?
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Membership, Leadership, and Culture 1 of 2
L.O. 11.3 Explain the impact of culture on small group membership and leadership behavior.
Individualism and Collectivism
Individualist cultures: each group member is important
Collectivist cultures: the group is the significant entity
Member Roles
Don’t apply in collectivist cultures
Belief Systems
Each cultures belief system influences group members’ behavior
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Membership, Leadership, and Culture 2 of 2
Leadership Style
Different cultures influence membership and leadership styles.
Be sensitive to cultural differences in small group behavior.
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Cultural Influences
In what ways has your own culture influenced your small group membership and leadership behavior?
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In what ways has your own culture influenced your small group membership and leadership behavior?
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