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