Problem-Solving Leadership Skills

Cragan, Kasch and Wright (2009) stated that communication behaviours are vital for
groups to achieve their goals (functional concept). “These leadership behaviours that
communication scholars have isolated occur in any good discussion, but the initiator
of them is not necessarily the appointed or natural leader of the group (p.196) “.
These authors have classified communication behaviour into three categories – task,
procedural and interpersonal leadership skills. Adams & Galanes (2018) have also
classified the behaviours group members look forward their leaders to perform into
three – performing administrative duties, leading group discussion and developing
the group. In this section, we will focus on communication behaviours as suggested
by Cragan, Kasch and Wright (2009). The tables below summarises the three
categories of communication behaviours with examples of phrase or sentences that
can be used in performing the behaviours.

Task Leadership Skills.

Leader or active members are expected to initiate task related leadership skills in
order to brainstorm and evaluate ideas and move the group towards achieving the
goals. There are six vital skills in this area.

Task Leadership Skills Phrases/Sentences

Contributing ideas
- It is an essential part of any task.
- Ideas are presented for the first
time by the group members.
- High level of task knowledge
enhances the contribution of
ideas.
- Brainstorming is used as a
technique to generate ideas.
- This leadership skill increases the
opportunity to generate more
ideas (quantity over quality)
 From my point of view,.....
 I’d like to point out that.....
 Personally, I think .....
 As far as I am concerned, .....
 George, in my opinion, one of the
best ways to overcome food
wastage is by giving tax incentive
for food donation.
Seeking ideas
- It is an important part of any group
discussion to seek for ideas from
group members.
- It is especially useful if the
members are silent or reluctant to
share their ideas.
- It is wise to seek for ideas without
disrupting the positive group
atmosphere (members should not
feel threatened).
Evaluating ideas
- It is one of the difficult skills to
perform.
- Ideas generated by the group
members need to be eliminated
through this process.
- This process has to be done with
a concern for the sensitivity of the
person who has contributed the
idea.
Seeking idea evaluation
- It requires active participations of
all group members to assess/
determine the relevance and
quality of brainstormed ideas.
- A difference in opinion or
disagreement is encouraged and
accepted as to identify the best
idea.
Visualising abstract ideas
- It is vital to use some specific
 What do you think about this idea
Daniel?
 Shiela, what is your opinion in this
matter?
 Can you explain this matter
further?
 Zen, could you please share your
thoughts on the solution proposed
by Alie?
 Let’s go through all the points that
we have discussed, by
considering the advantages and
disadvantages.
 Alice, this idea is generally good
but I think it won’t be of much help
in solving the problem at hand
because ........
 This solution requires financial
assistance from the board of
directors and involves many
procedures. We should focus on
solutions which have less
complicated regulations.
 Guys, we need to examine the
solutions we have listed.
 Cheah, what do you think about
George’s point?
 Well, I don’t quite agree with you
because .....
 Well, I see things rather
differently.....
 I have to side with you on this
one….
 One of the factors which caused
 examples related to the idea being
discussed.
- Specific examples help to clarify
the idea and eventually allow
members to understand the idea.
Generalising from specific ideas
- It is a process of generalising
specific examples to promote
general understanding of the main
idea being discussed.
Procedural Leadership Skills.
These leadership skills are concerned with how the group accomplishes its task. A
designated leader or experienced members are normally expected to perform these
functions. There are 7 skills in this area.
Procedural Leadership Skills
Goal setting
- It is a significant skill that helps us
to decide the purpose of forming
the group.
- The purpose or the goal is always
open for discussion and
modification as continual
evaluation regulates the ideas in
terms of its fixed purposes.
Agenda making
- It is a skill that helps the group to
food wastage is preparation of too
much food. For an example,
wedding. Shortage of food is
never tolerated and therefore too
much of food is prepared and
wasted (Specific example to
describe the point).
 Can you give us an example so
that we could understand better?
 All in all, these examples are
important for us to understand the
root cause of food wastage (main
idea).
 That’s excellent Brandon. Your
examples pointed out the impacts
of food wastage in our society
(main idea).
 Could you please explain how
these examples are relevant to
our discussion?
Phrases/ Sentences
 The goals that our team have to
achieve are .....
 The aim of forming this discussion
group is to .......
 We are going to organise a
 achieve the goals in orderly
manner (how to achieve).
- It is also referred as” map-
making”.
Clarifying
- It is a needed skill to ensure all
group members understand what
is being said or discussed.
- It is common to have an
unorganised discussion as
everyone will put forth their
opinions. Lack of clarity may
cause misunderstandings.
- Therefore, group discussion
requires clarification to be effective
and successful.
Summarising
- It is internal summaries that help
to establish the idea of discussion
in the minds of the group
members.
- Internal summary reminds the
group members about the idea
that has been discussed before
moving to a new idea.
- It is necessary that each point in
the agenda to be presented,
discussed and summarised.
Verbalising consensus
- Getting consensus from group
members on an agenda item is
necessary before continuing with a
new item.
- This process occurs frequently
throughout the discussion.
- Decision making or getting
agreement from every member of
the group does not have to wait
until the end of the discussion.
- This skill effectively enhances the
decision making process.
Establishing norms governing work
patterns
campaign to achieve our sales’
target.
 The solution has to be
implemented by following the
procedures that we have agreed.
 I don’t quite get you. Could you
please explain?
 The idea seems vague. Would
you mind explaining?
 Let me restate your point in my
own words to see if I understand
it.
 What do you mean by that?
 In short, .....
 In brief,.....
 To summarize, .....
 As discussed, domestic violence
has physical, emotional and
psychological consequences on
the victim.
 I would like to know your stand on
this matter before we proceed to
the next issue.
 Everyone seems to agree with the
idea proposed by Sam.
 If there is no objection, we shall
proceed to the next item in our
agenda.
 - It is a standard practice that needs
to be followed by every group
members (good work behaviour)
- There are two important patterns
that are required to be followed:
1)”No work is beneath any group
member”: all members are equally
responsible for achieving the goals
and no one person is appointed or
required to perform work such as
preparing coffee and so on.
2)”Group members should work
outside of group time to compile
information”: productivity of a
group depends on the ability of
group members to work outside
discussion/meeting hours.
- Meeting or discussion is primarily
to incorporate, manage, organise
and assign tasks.

Coordinating and performing group

protocols
- Before a meeting takes place,
three types of protocol need to be
addressed:
- 1)Social: informing group
members of the time, topic, venue,
duration of meeting, agenda
- 2)Environmental: providing
comfortable meeting room that will
not distract the members from task
(e.g. temperature, lighting,
restroom, availability of
refreshment)
- 3) Conference- determining
agenda and format of discussion
and preparing handouts and
equipments required for meeting
purposes

Interpersonal Leadership Skills

There are six leadership skills outlined in this area and they have two functions

which are addressing the social-emotional needs of the group members (the first
four skills) and dealing with ideational and interpersonal obstacles.

Interpersonal Leadership Skills Phrases/ Sentences

Regulating participation
- This skill involves regulation that  Arun, you have not said a word.
limits a member’s speaking time. What do you think about this
- It is essential that each member is proposal?
given the opportunity to speak.  You have given us brilliant ideas.
- Leaders should ask questions to Let’s listen to what others have to
elicit response from silent group say.
members.
- Leaders should carefully reduce
one member’s contribution and
give opportunity to other members.
- It is also wise for a leader not to
monopolise nor disengage in the
discussion.

Climate making
- Leader should furnish and
maintain a positive group
atmosphere which allows
members to have a sense of
psychological safety.
- When the atmosphere is perceived
as safe, group members tend to
exchange ideas and feelings and
vice versa.
- Conflicts and disagreements are
bound to happen but this positive
atmosphere gives an assurance
that rules governing the
functioning of group will not be
violated.

Maintaining mutual respect

- Individual member’s ideas
/opinions /feelings should be
respected because group work
depends on communication,
collaboration and collective
intelligence.
- Psychological well-being of group
members is important in moving
towards achieving group goals.
 Your ideas sound good. We
should look deeper into these
ideas.
 We don’t seem to be in complete
agreement but I appreciate your
good thoughts.
Instigating group self-monitoring
- Group self-monitoring is essential
to preserve the health of the
group.
- Group reflects on their discussion
when they face obstacles
- It is important to deal with
backstage issues if it impedes the
group progress

Resolving and managing conflict  I suggest we discuss this matter

- Conflict occurs due to ideas or some other time.
personalities within the group.  I’m sorry. I may be wrong.
- Conflicts should either be
managed or resolved as it affects
group’s survival.

Instigating good conflict  Let me play the devil’s advocate

- This skill is needed when for a moment.
members are afraid of hurting one  I think some of Arshard’s points
another during idea evaluation are irrelevant. What do you say?
phase especially.
- Any of the members should play
the devil’s advocate role to
provoke beneficial conflicts during
the discussion.
- Positive conflicts maximises the
collective intelligence of a group.