Chapter 6 Building Relationships in Groups Being dependent on other members Being interdependent with other members • Building relationships with other group members enhances group interdependence Copyright.
Download ReportTranscript Chapter 6 Building Relationships in Groups Being dependent on other members Being interdependent with other members • Building relationships with other group members enhances group interdependence Copyright.
Chapter 6
Building Relationships in Groups
Being dependent on other members Being interdependent with other members • Building relationships with other group members enhances group interdependence Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 1
Group Communication Climate
Atmosphere created through verbal, nonverbal and listening skills • Tone, mood, or character of the group’s interaction Defensive climate Supportive climate All groups need some level of supportive climate Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 2
Six Categories of Climate
Evaluation Control Strategy Neutrality Superiority Certainty Description Problem Orientation Spontaneity Empathy Equality Provisionalism Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 3
Changing the Group’s Climate
Help a group develop a more supportive climate • Adopt more positive behaviors • Monitor your reactions to the interactions of other • • Identify group’s communication habits Accept your role in creating the existing climate Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 4
Group Cohesiveness
Degree to which members desire to remain in the group • Psychological closeness • Based on attraction to members, tasks, coordination of effort, or opportunity to work on behalf of group Signals commitment to the group Heightens interdependence more Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 5
Group Cohesiveness
Improve cohesiveness • Give members opportunity to talk • Do members complement one another?
Cohesiveness influences group performance • Depends on level of interdependence required • Yet cohesiveness not sufficient to ensure quality performance Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 6
Group Member Satisfaction
Degree to which members feel fulfilled or gratified Satisfaction is different from dissatisfaction • Satisfiers • Group is moving along expected path • Dissatisfiers • Group experiences process problems more Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 7
Group Member Satisfaction
Can be based on • Interpersonal elements • • • Task elements Some combination How conflict is handled Satisfied members try harder to communicate more effectively Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 8
Improving Satisfaction and Cohesiveness
Encourage a positive climate Celebrate successes Base rewards on group output Give members opportunity for input into developing group goals and tasks Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 9
Cautions about Satisfaction and Cohesiveness
High cohesiveness and satisfaction do not ensure acceptable output High cohesiveness can detract from a group’s task and lower satisfaction Satisfaction based on relationships can detract from a group’s task Larger group makes it more difficult for cohesiveness and satisfaction to develop Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 10
Trust
Based on positive expectation of another group member Helps members predict behaviors of others Develops over time with each group member as relationships unfold Based on honesty, openness, consistency, respect Difficult if group is working under pressure Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 11
Building Trust
Be aware of your communicator style Use supportive climate interaction characteristics Use appropriate self-disclosure Develop positive and collaborative climate with
all
group members Monitor your interaction Copyright c 2006 Oxford University Press 12