DECEMBER 8, 2020 HOGWARTS UNIVERSITY

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HOGWARTS UNIVERSITY PRESS

Golden Advice
How do you create effective small group communication? “Small group
communication is a
Dear Sandy, 
great skill to learn
Thank you for reaching out to us about small group communication in the and an effective
college setting. We know… this can be super hard, especially in your freshman tool”
year! But, don’t worry, we have your back. As upperclassmen college students,

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we know exactly what you are dealing with. Small group

communication can be scary to engage with and generate when
you do not know anyone, but it is a great skill to learn and an A ranking of the most
effective tool. It is also a lifelong skill that will benefit you hated people from
throughout your professional career! 
the Wizarding World
We advocate for not only the use of small groups during your
college career, but also the learning of skills to increase the
effectiveness of small group communication. By using our advice,
you will be ready to initiate small group communication, promote
productivity within your group, and become an engaging
contributor. We believe that these three skills will set you up to get
the most out of your small groups and further enrich your college
experience!

I am a student leader of an on-campus organization, and

I was wondering if I should assign roles to my different
team members? Will this be beneficial or detrimental to
small group communication?

Having small group roles can help increase teamwork,

communication, and productivity. Each member can focus on
their certain role(s) and contribute to the team in meaningful and
different ways. Individuals can even take on multiple roles, and
these roles are subject to change based on a shift in group dynamic
or just based on the day and each member’s current mood. 

I have had many different experiences as a student-leader, and

each group and situation requires a different leadership style. If
you find yourself a leader of a group of individuals who are all
outspoken and a little headstrong, trying to assign roles may cause
tension within the group and could result in the group members
forming negative feelings towards you. However, you may find
yourself in a situation where your group members are all very
quiet and not proactive. In this case, assigning roles can help
encourage your fellow classmates to participate and contribute to
the end goal. (University of Minnesota, n.d.)

How can small groups be more effective? Are there

“rules” we can implement?

It is no secret that while small groups can be extremely beneficial

throughout college, they can also be unproductive and awkward.
Fortunately, there are many “rules” that small groups can
implement to combat these negative aspects. To begin,
constructing a welcoming environment is crucial for active
participation. By creating a non-judgmental place to work, people
will feel more comfortable engaging in conversations. There are

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many ways to do this: meet in an accessible location, arrange seating so everyone can see one
another, think about the group’s lifestyle before picking a meeting time, and provide snacks
(CruPress, 2010).

There are a variety of ways to promote effective communication in small groups. During meetings,
digital devices should be put away besides what’s necessary as they are a fast to kill dynamic
conversation. Groups should create a structure for their meetings. By identifying a clear task, groups
will be more productive and feel more rewarded. During small group communication, some people
may frequently dominate the conversation while others contribute very little. There are tools to
prevent these unequal contributions. If people are struggling or not contributing directly, ask them
what their views are. Creating a very welcoming environment will also increase their participation. To
help more vocal group members become better listeners, ask them how their reviews relate to what
others in their group expressed (Estefan, 2018).

How can I be a better small group member? What actions can I take as an individual to
promote good communication?

Here are seven ways that you can help contribute more to your small group and become a better
group member:

1. Listen. Take on an active listening approach where you use non-verbal behaviors such as
making eye contact and nodding your head to show your engagement. Being a good listener can
help ensure that all group members feel like their ideas have been heard can increase group
cohesion and productivity.

2. Clarify confusing statements. Helping to explain complex statements to others in the group will
help make sure everyone is on the same page and fully understands what is being done. 

3. Discuss. Discussion is an important aspect of small group communication. One person should
not dominate the conversation. Offer your opinions and talk with other members about why
they agree or disagree with you.

4. Keep on task. You should remain on task throughout the small group work and encourage
others to as well, even if you are in a group with your friends. 

5. Include everyone. Make sure to include everyone in the group’s communication. Ask for a
member’s opinion if they haven’t spoken up. 

6. Give feedback. Offering some constructive criticism can help make your small group more
effective and productive. But also remember to graciously receive feedback as well!

7. Solve conflicts. Disagreements and conflicts are likely to occur, but you can help facilitate and
work towards an agreement by acknowledging both sides and trying to find a compromise. 

(University of Pittsburgh, n.d.)

Well, Sandy, we hope that our advice was helpful! While small groups can seem daunting, they can
increase teamwork, communication, productivity, and friendship making. Remember to always
create a welcoming environment by listening, putting away the phone, discussing, and, of course,
bringing snacks!

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References:

Communication behaviors for effective small group work. (n.d.). University of

     Pittsburgh. https://www.comm.pitt.edu/

     communication-behaviors-effective-small-group-work 

Estefan, M. (2018, December 11). How to Effectively Organize Small Groups in 

     Classes. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved December 8, 2020, from 

     https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2018/12/11/ 

     how-effectively-organize-small-groups-classes-opinion 

Group member roles. (n.d.). In Communication in the real world.

     https://open.lib.umn.edu/communication/chapter/14-2-group-member-roles/ 

[How to Create an Environment for Growth in Your Small Group]. (2010). CruPress. 

     Retrieved December 8, 2020, from https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/ 

     help-others-grow/leading-small-groups/ 

     creating-the-right-small-group-environment.html 

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