Communicating In
Small Groups
Ten Key Points to Communicating
in Small Groups
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1. Form small teams with complementary skills
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2. Clearly define role and goals
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3. Establish a pleasant working environment
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4. Manage conflicts through cooperation
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5. Encourage open communication and keep an
open mind
Ten Key Points to Communicating
in Small Groups
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6. Collaborate rather than compete
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7. Divide leadership accordingly throughout
various stages
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8. Establish a fair method for decision making
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9. Respect your group and your responsibilities
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10. Find a balance between work and play
Definition
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Title: Small Group Communication
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URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small-group_communication
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Description: A clear definition of ‘Small Group Communication’
Books
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Title: In Mixed Company: Communicating in Small Groups and
Teams
URL: http://www.amazon.com/Mixed-Company-CommunicatingSmallGroups/dp/0495007269/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=12226
47140&sr=1-5
Description: Discusses concepts of small group communication
along with how to apply them to real life situations.
Title: Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices
URL: http://www.amazon.com/Communicating-Small-GroupsPrinciplesPractices/dp/0205449565/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=122
2647140&sr=1-3
Description: Provides principles of group communication with a
focus on teamwork, technology, and ethical cooperation.
Books (Continued)
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Title: The Fundamentals of Small Group Communication
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URL: http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Small-GroupCommunication/dp/141295939X/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&q
id=1222647140&sr=1-10
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Description: Focuses on the individual within the group and what
they have to gain and lose from their actions.
Educational Links
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Title: Small Group Communication Context
URL: http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/group/
Description: This site discusses and evaluates various
theories on the subject of small group communication.
Title: Small Group Communication: A Theoretical
Approach
URL: http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/teams/pavitt/
Description: This site contains a course's lecture notes
on small group communication.
Educational Links (Continued)
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Title: Small Group Communication PowerPoint
URL:http://www.uwgb.edu/clampitp/Small%20Group/Small%20Gro
up%20Communication%20Introduction.ppt
Description: The following link is a powerpoint presentation which
serves as an overview of the topic of small group communication.
Title: Small Group Communication Notes
URL:http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~natt/com114/smallgroups.pdf
Description: The following link contains everything one needs to
know about small group communication from its definition to the
types of groups as well as the problems that may arise.
Blogs
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Title: Why Teams Succeed And Why They Fail
URL: http://www.skorks.com/2008/09/why-teams-succeed-andwhy-they-fail/
Description: The blog explains why some teams succeed and some
fail depending on the combination of leaders and followers forming
the team.
Title: Dealing with Personality Types in Small Group Settings
URL: http://sbcghostrecon.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/dealing-withpersonality-types-in-small-group-settings/
Description: This blog talks about how to deal with different
personalities and how to handle conflict accordingly.
Discussion Forums
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Title: Improve Your Communication Skills
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URL: http://www.mindtools.com/page8.html
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Description: The discussion forum on this site is dedicated to
improving personal and interpersonal skills such as stress
management and group communication. Registration is required to
access the discussion forum.
Newsletters
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Title: Virtual Teams: The Communications Challenge
URL:
http://www.impactcommunicationsinc.com/pdf/nwsltr_2008/ICINwslt
rff0805.pdf
Description: Impact Communications Inc. releases monthly
newsletters on their website. Problems associated with longdistance group communication are addressed.
Title: Five Hidden Traps in Meetings
URL: http://stevekaye.com/ez/ez_0603.html
Description: Business consultant Steve Kaye specializes in
helping business leaders hold effective group meetings and
identifies some of the pitfalls to avoid.
Newsletters (Continued)
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Title: Business Communication: Is it a Game?
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URL: http://www.selfleadership.com.au/archive/March05.htm
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Description: In this newsletter from Self Leadership International,
the author discusses ways in which we can become more effective
communicators within workplace groups.
Seminars
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Title: Presentations to Small Groups
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URL: http://www.theprescottgroup.com/pres_small_groups.htm
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Description: The Prescott Group Communication Consultants offer
a two-day business presentation seminar specifically designed for
presenting to small groups.
Peer-Reviewed Journals
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Title: Western Journal of Communication
URL: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/10570314.asp
Description: The Western journal of communication is dedicated
to the publication of original scholarly manuscripts which advance
our understanding of human communication.
Title: Small Group Research
URL:
http://www.sagepub.com/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal200
891
Description: A leader in the field of small group research
Credits
Ariela Moyal
Andrew Eylott
David Mitchell
Denitsa Ikonomova
Paul David
Xi Cao