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Group Communication

Group Communications
Melinda, Flowers, Chelsea Marlow
Michael Miller and Yelena Newman
University of Phoenix
COM 530
July 10, 2009

Leadership in today's world is increasingly important with technological changes and the force-structure downsizing that all organizations are experiencing. Adaptive leadership is necessary in today's complex and ambiguous companies. Leaders in our company must be able to adjust their leadership style to the situation as well as to the staff being led. Leaders are not limited to one style in a given situation and, with the nature of the company, being able to adapt appropriate styles will influence employees' success. Techniques from different styles are used to motivate employees and accomplish the mission. A leader's judgment, intelligence, cultural awareness, and self-control "play major roles in helping you choose the proper style and the appropriate techniques for the task at hand.

There are numerous barriers that can hinder effective communication within a group. These barriers include manipulating information, selective hearing and comprehension, the inability to understand all information given and emotional and language barriers.
         The first barrier mentioned was manipulation of information given. Sometimes in a group, members will change their message in order for it to be more accepted by the person receiving it. According to Communication in Small Groups by Masterson and Beebe, this barrier can be seen more in organizations that have more of a power distance between individuals. This is because employees tend to communicate messages they think their boss wants to hear (p 384).
         Another barrier is preconceived notions. Many people hear a message but already assume the answer which impedes the receiver from getting full understanding of the message. Another barrier is the inability of the receiver to listen and comprehend a large amount of information at

one time. We live in a culture...