Many important communication interactions are conducted in small group settings. In class, you may be assigned to a project team to study some problem. At work, you may serve on a committee planning the company’s future. In your community, a group of neighbors may meet to resolve some issue. In social organizations, you may find yourself planning organizational activities with a few others.
In order to understand how such communication functions, we need to
consider the nature of a group. For a collection of people to be considered
“a group,”
I More than three people must interact face to face over a period of time in order to reach a goal.
• Those who interact must be part of some larger population that they represent.
• Oral communication must be central to their interaction.
Here we discuss how groups function and how your public communication skills can make you a better participant or leader.