MLOS 501-O Session 01

Welcome to MLOS : 

10/28/2010 1 Welcome to MLOS Session One Communication in Groups and Teams

Goals for this week : 

10/28/2010 2 Goals for this week Build understanding of competent communication Introduce concepts of groups, teams, and meetings

The traditional view of communication : 

10/28/2010 3 The traditional view of communication Communication has typically been the study of misunderstandings We search for the “right way” of saying things We assume that the “right way” can be found

What is communication? : 

10/28/2010 4 What is communication? Traditional View of Communication: Focused on Sending Meaning Subject to “Conveyor Belt” Fallacy—I have spoken, therefore I have communicated

Within the traditional view : 

10/28/2010 5 Within the traditional view When we communicate, we are driven by six personal needs For achievement—to accomplish the goal we have set for ourselves in the communication situation For appropriateness—to fit in with expectations most people have about this type of communication situation For consistency—to act in ways that fit with who we think we are (e.g., if I think I’m a nice person, I want to “act nicely.”)

Within the traditional view : 

10/28/2010 6 Within the traditional view Our needs, continued To be right—I don’t want to be seen as someone who doesn’t know what he/she is talking about To be heard—I want you to know what I think To be seen—I want you to see me the same way I see myself (e.g., if I think of myself as a “nice person,” I want you to think I am “acting nicely.”

Before we even begin to speak, our needs affect the way we will choose our messages to communicate with another person : 

10/28/2010 7 Before we even begin to speak, our needs affect the way we will choose our messages to communicate with another person

What is missing? : 

10/28/2010 8 What is missing? The “YOU”—a sense of the other If we take a traditional view of communication, we hardly think of the other person because we are focused on getting our message across.

If we’re thinking about the other, our thoughts might look like this : 

10/28/2010 9 If we’re thinking about the other, our thoughts might look like this

But something is still missing... : 

10/28/2010 10 But something is still missing... Communication is more than sending meaning Communication is creating meaning Competent communicators start with this understanding What we create together

A new perspective on communication : 

10/28/2010 11 A new perspective on communication We want people to understand various communication situations We want people to become competent at adapting to various communication situations Competence flows from knowledge and skills

Some starting principles for creating competent communication : 

10/28/2010 12 Some starting principles for creating competent communication Communication is Culturally constrained Your culture of origin, the other person’s culture of origin, the culture in which you’re operating (including the organizational culture) all affect expectations. Occurs in a context The situation demands different responses. How we are expected to act in a classroom is different from a church and different from the grocery store, etc.

Starting principles, cont. : 

10/28/2010 13 Starting principles, cont. Communication is Sometimes mindless The best example is greeting behavior—Hi, how are you? Fine thanks, how are you? We don’t even really listen. Both content and relationally loaded What we say (content) and how we say it (the relationship) both have meaning.

Starting principles, cont. : 

10/28/2010 14 Starting principles, cont. Communication is Ruled by equifinality (uncertainty) Just because something worked in the past doesn’t mean it will work this time. And just because something failed in the past doesn’t mean it will fail this time.. Unrepeatable Each communication situation is a unique event. We can’t take for granted that we’ll have future opportunities to talk to someone.

Starting principles, cont. : 

10/28/2010 15 Starting principles, cont. Communication is Irreversible We can’t “take back” what we’ve said. All we can do is work around it. Rule governed There are rules everywhere for getting things done the best way. Say “please” and “thank-you” is a rule our parents teach us. “Knock before you enter your boss’s office” is a rule. We don’t always know what they are until we break them, but competent communicators try to learn them.

Most importantly : 

10/28/2010 16 Most importantly There is no communication magic! No one can guarantee that if you choose particular messages and deliver them at particular times that you will be successful. Communication always depends on the situation, who’s involved, and so on.

Components of communication competence : 

10/28/2010 17 Components of communication competence It is a matter of more or less, not either/or Characterized by Knowledge Skills Sensitivity Commitment Ethics—honesty, respect, fairness, choice

Characteristics of competent communicators : 

10/28/2010 18 Characteristics of competent communicators Competent communicators are flexible and adaptive mindful of the culture and context mindful of issues of language attentive to nonverbal signals Competence is often intuitive in nature

Competent communicators : 

10/28/2010 19 Competent communicators Ask What do I think needs to happen? What does the other think needs to happen? Am I focusing on me, you, or us?

Becoming Competent : 

10/28/2010 20 Becoming Competent

It is expected you will build competence : 

10/28/2010 21 It is expected you will build competence BUT Competence is not enough We must be both competent and Christ-like

Christ-like communication : 

10/28/2010 22 Christ-like communication Recognizes that The world was created by God’s words Genesis 1:3 “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” God gave no other animal the innate capacity to speak Animals communicate with each other, and sometimes with us, but there is no evidence that they symbolize like humans do Jesus is the word incarnate John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Christ-like communication : 

10/28/2010 23 Christ-like communication Recognizes that Words are powerful Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” We create reality through our words When you say “He’s lazy” or “She’s a hard worker” you’ve created a reality for someone

Christ-like communication : 

10/28/2010 24 Christ-like communication Requires embrace Embrace is indiscriminant love Miroslav Volf says: The will to embrace precedes any “truth” about others and any construction of their “justice.” This will is absolutely indiscriminate and strictly immutable; it transcends the moral mapping of the social world into “good” and “evil.” Flows from the doctrine of the “imago dei”—the idea that the image of God is found in all human beings This doctrine requires that we look for the image of God in the one with whom we communicate, and act accordingly

Communication that embraces : 

10/28/2010 25 Communication that embraces Communicatively, embrace is demonstrated through your attitude toward the other Embracing communication says “Your needs are important to me” I want to hear you I want to accept you I want to see you as you wish to be seen I want to see you as God sees you

Communication that embraces : 

10/28/2010 26 Communication that embraces Focuses on problem-solving Says “we,” not “I” Does not emphasize power Is creative and inventive Creates relationships and community It seeks to understand before being understood It is undergirded by love for the other

Success in groups in teams : 

10/28/2010 27 Success in groups in teams Is largely dependent upon our communication competence

Meetings, Groups and Teams : 

10/28/2010 28 Meetings, Groups and Teams How are groups distinguished from meetings and from teams?

Meetings, Teams, & Groups Differ : 

10/28/2010 29 Meetings, Teams, & Groups Differ Meeting People who come together for decision-making No regular interaction No relationship beyond

Meetings, Teams, & Groups Differ : 

10/28/2010 30 Meetings, Teams, & Groups Differ Team Organized around tasks Generally terminated at end of task

Meetings, Teams, & Groups Differ : 

10/28/2010 31 Meetings, Teams, & Groups Differ Group Characterized by interdependence Sense of identity as group Existence transcends tasks Governed by norms

Characteristics of Groups : 

10/28/2010 32 Characteristics of Groups Three or more people who Think of themselves as a group Communicate with each other

Characteristics of Groups : 

10/28/2010 33 Characteristics of Groups Three or more people who are interdependent. Shared goals Members’ behavior impacts each other Both affect and are affected by the environment

Characteristics of Groups : 

10/28/2010 34 Characteristics of Groups Groups are governed by norms What usually happens What is expected to happen Penalties for breaking norms