A collection of individuals who are connected to one another by some common purpose, are interdependent, have some degree of organization, and see themselves as a group
Group Communication
Three or more people who interact over time, are interdependent and follow shared rules of conduct to reach a common goal
Features of Group Communication
Identify a clear goal
Gather and share information
Develop options
Evaluate ideas
Develop sensitivity towards others
Develop a positive personal style
Develop a result driven structure
People-oriented listener
Interested in the speaker and how they think and feel about their message
Content-oriented listener
Interested in the message itself, whether it makes sense, what it means, and whether it's accurate
Time-oriented listener
Prefer a message that gets to the point quickly, can become impatient with slow delivery or lengthy explanations
Listening in Groups
An active, complex process that includes being mindful, physically receiving messages, selecting and organizing information, interpreting communication, responding, and remembering
Managing Problems in Group Communication
1. Analyze the problem
2. Establish criteria
3. Consider the solutions
4. Decide on the solution
5. Implement the solution
Analyzing a problem
Breaking it down into smaller pieces, considering its causes, effects, symptoms, history, and other information to inform the best solution
Criteria
Standards for an acceptable solution to a problem, such as being inexpensive, relevant, clear, precise, feasible and practical