Page 201 - Essentials of Human Communication

180 Chapter 9 Small Group Communication

Video Choice point
First Impressions
Angie, an accounting major, worked hard in college and has landed a good first job with a
large accounting firm. She has been assigned to join a team of four others to work on new accounting
procedures for a major client. As the newest member of the team, she wants to be perceived as both like-
able and competent. She is eager to make a good impression with her new colleagues. She considers the
topics covered in this chapter as she contemplates her communication choices. See how her choices play
out in the video “First Impressions”.

Watch the Video “First Impressions” at MyCommunicationLab

Objectives Self-Check
● Can you define small group and team?
● Can you explain the stages and the formats of small group communication?
● Can you explain the nature of small group apprehension and the influence of culture?

Brainstorming Groups

Many small groups exist solely to generate ideas through brainstorming—a technique
for analyzing a problem by presenting as many ideas as possible (Osborn, 1957; Beebe &
Masterson, 2012). Although brainstorming also can be useful when you’re trying to come up
with ideas by yourself—ideas for speeches or term papers, ideas for a fun vacation, or ways to
make money—it is more typical in small group settings. Organizations have come to embrace
brainstorming, because it lessens group members’ inhibitions and encourages all participants
to exercise their creativity. It also fosters cooperative teamwork; members soon learn that
their own ideas and creativity are sparked by the contributions of others. The technique
builds member pride and ownership in the final solution (or product or service), because all
members contribute to it.
Brainstorming occurs in two phases: (1) the brainstorming period itself and (2) the
evaluation period. The procedures are simple. First, a problem is selected. The “problem”
may be almost anything that is amenable to many possible solutions or ideas—for example,
how to recruit new members to the organization or how to market a new product. Before
the actual session, group members are informed of the problem so they can think about the
topic. When the group meets, each person contributes as many ideas as he or she can think
of. Companies often use chalkboards, whiteboards, or easels to record all the ideas. A
brainstorming group may appoint one person to be the scribe; that person keys the group’s
notes into a laptop for instant circulation via e-mail to other group members after the
group has concluded its business. During the initial idea-generating session, members
follow four rules:
● Rule 1: No evaluations are permitted at this stage. All ideas are recorded for the group to
see (or hear later). Prohibiting both verbal and nonverbal evaluation encourages group
members to participate freely.
This first rule is perhaps the most difficult for members to follow, so you might want to
practice responding to what are called “idea killers.” For example, what might you say if
someone were to criticize an idea with the following comments?
We tried it before and it didn’t work. It would cost too much.
No one would vote for it. We don’t have the facilities.
It’s too complex. What we have is good enough.
It’s too simple. It just doesn’t fit us.
It would take too long. It’s not possible.