Chapter 9
Groups and leaders
Groups impact our lives in a number of ways. Groups are composed of people who share
relationships, often relationships existing outside that group setting. These relationships influence the
communication taking place within a group, leadership within a group, and decisions that are made
by a group.
What is a group?
A group requires at least three people. A group cannot be so large that people are unable to fully
contribute or unable to perceive themselves as anything more than a collection of individuals without
a shared purpose. Groups interact not because of their composition (numbers or types of people) but
because of the kinds of communication occurring between specific people involve. Thus, a group is
more than just a collection of a few people. Rather, groups are transacted, or created, through
communication and relationships. A group comes into being once people recognize themselves and
other as members of the same group. A collection of people is not really a group unless it has a
common purpose, people are collected to achieve a particular goal.
TYPES OF GROUPS
Five primary types of groups:
Type of group Primary / fundamental purposes Features
Formal Task oriented, general management Membership restricted/ delegated
oversight, outcome focused, often Attendance expected
legislative or formally structured to Clear structure
run an organization Power vested in the chair/leader
Agenda followed
Possible formal rules for turn taking,
voting, and the other activities
Advisory Task specific, usually evidentiary or Membership specific/ restricted
evaluative, with the intention of Possible structure
producing an outcome that is a Possible chair
focused “best solution” to a specific Possible agenda
problem or arrangement of an event Discussion usually open and informal
Critical and evaluative argument of
different proposals encouraged
Creative Evaluation of concepts or creation of Membership usually invited
new products or approaches to Lack of structure
complex problems Primary purpose is generation of as
many ideas as possible to evaluate at a
later time
Members discourages from critical
comment on the ideas generated
Support Advising, comforting, sharing Membership loosely defined
knowledge, spreading information, Members come and go as needed
1
, and raising consciousness about Participation generally voluntary
specific issues
Networking Obtaining, building, or sustaining Membership not defined
relationships, usually online Members join and leave as desired
Types of groups are ultimately differentiated through their communication and the ways in which
members treat one another relationally.
Characteristics of groups
Groups involve people who recognize shared membership and who have a common purpose for
being together. Groups are ultimately transacted through communication and relationships.
Key characteristics of groups:
a. Cohesiveness
b. Interdependence
c. Commitment
d. Norms
e. Roles
f. Cultures
COHESIVENESS
Cohesiveness describes people working together and feeling connected. Relationships among group
members established through common motives and goals. Cohesiveness in groups is performed
communicatively and essentially comes down to a communicational concept where people
coordinate their talk and action as a result of their relationships for one another. Group effectiveness
or success largely depends on members working together cohesively. Group effectiveness or success
also depends on members feeling connected and cohesive. It comes from maintaining morale, civility,
and good relationships between group members.
AVOIDING GROUPTHINK
= a negative consequence of cohesiveness. If everyone wants to keep everyone else happy rather
than make tough decisions, this leads to a specific kind of conformity. This negative kind of
consensus-seeking cohesiveness is referred to as groupthink. The group prefers the well-being of its
members, morale, and teamwork at the expense of proper critical evaluation of ideas.
INTERDEPENDENCE
Everyone relies on everyone else to do a specific part of the overall job well. It works as a transacted
outcome of the communication between group members.
COMMITMENT
Group members usually show commitment to each other and to their group’s goals when a group is
working well (team players). The group shows commitment to individual members through caring for
their welfare, as well as aiming to achieve the goals of the group.
DEALING WITH OUT-GROUPS
2
Groups and leaders
Groups impact our lives in a number of ways. Groups are composed of people who share
relationships, often relationships existing outside that group setting. These relationships influence the
communication taking place within a group, leadership within a group, and decisions that are made
by a group.
What is a group?
A group requires at least three people. A group cannot be so large that people are unable to fully
contribute or unable to perceive themselves as anything more than a collection of individuals without
a shared purpose. Groups interact not because of their composition (numbers or types of people) but
because of the kinds of communication occurring between specific people involve. Thus, a group is
more than just a collection of a few people. Rather, groups are transacted, or created, through
communication and relationships. A group comes into being once people recognize themselves and
other as members of the same group. A collection of people is not really a group unless it has a
common purpose, people are collected to achieve a particular goal.
TYPES OF GROUPS
Five primary types of groups:
Type of group Primary / fundamental purposes Features
Formal Task oriented, general management Membership restricted/ delegated
oversight, outcome focused, often Attendance expected
legislative or formally structured to Clear structure
run an organization Power vested in the chair/leader
Agenda followed
Possible formal rules for turn taking,
voting, and the other activities
Advisory Task specific, usually evidentiary or Membership specific/ restricted
evaluative, with the intention of Possible structure
producing an outcome that is a Possible chair
focused “best solution” to a specific Possible agenda
problem or arrangement of an event Discussion usually open and informal
Critical and evaluative argument of
different proposals encouraged
Creative Evaluation of concepts or creation of Membership usually invited
new products or approaches to Lack of structure
complex problems Primary purpose is generation of as
many ideas as possible to evaluate at a
later time
Members discourages from critical
comment on the ideas generated
Support Advising, comforting, sharing Membership loosely defined
knowledge, spreading information, Members come and go as needed
1
, and raising consciousness about Participation generally voluntary
specific issues
Networking Obtaining, building, or sustaining Membership not defined
relationships, usually online Members join and leave as desired
Types of groups are ultimately differentiated through their communication and the ways in which
members treat one another relationally.
Characteristics of groups
Groups involve people who recognize shared membership and who have a common purpose for
being together. Groups are ultimately transacted through communication and relationships.
Key characteristics of groups:
a. Cohesiveness
b. Interdependence
c. Commitment
d. Norms
e. Roles
f. Cultures
COHESIVENESS
Cohesiveness describes people working together and feeling connected. Relationships among group
members established through common motives and goals. Cohesiveness in groups is performed
communicatively and essentially comes down to a communicational concept where people
coordinate their talk and action as a result of their relationships for one another. Group effectiveness
or success largely depends on members working together cohesively. Group effectiveness or success
also depends on members feeling connected and cohesive. It comes from maintaining morale, civility,
and good relationships between group members.
AVOIDING GROUPTHINK
= a negative consequence of cohesiveness. If everyone wants to keep everyone else happy rather
than make tough decisions, this leads to a specific kind of conformity. This negative kind of
consensus-seeking cohesiveness is referred to as groupthink. The group prefers the well-being of its
members, morale, and teamwork at the expense of proper critical evaluation of ideas.
INTERDEPENDENCE
Everyone relies on everyone else to do a specific part of the overall job well. It works as a transacted
outcome of the communication between group members.
COMMITMENT
Group members usually show commitment to each other and to their group’s goals when a group is
working well (team players). The group shows commitment to individual members through caring for
their welfare, as well as aiming to achieve the goals of the group.
DEALING WITH OUT-GROUPS
2
