Successful Group Communication

Working towards proper communication all throughout a group can be very difficult. It takes a leader strength, confidence, and so many more important traits to maintain a successful group. Though the leader is the one who takes most responsibility, everyone in the group must put in the effort to have proper communication with one another. There are multiple factors that can inhibit successful group communication and prevent them from achieving an Egalitarian type of communication amongst the group members, which can drastically affect the outcome of what the group is trying to achieve. It is important for a group to facilitate healthy and egalitarian communication to ensure that they will be successful and achieve their final goals.
To begin,

there are many different fixable factors that can attribute to unsuccessful group communication. Many of these issues may or may not be in one’s control. First, Communication Apprehension is typically one of the greatest issues that inhibits proper and successful communication in groups. Communication Apprehension is especially difficult because it has to do with group-members’ own personal feelings about sharing their opinions and ideas with groups. In the article Communication Apprehension: The Quiet Student in Your Classroom. ERIC Digest, the Hillary Taylor Holbrook writes, “Communication apprehension (CA) has been defined as an ‘individual level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons’ (McCroskey, 1977),” (Holbrook, 1987). Those who struggle with Communication Apprehension have a very difficult time participating in any sort of group work or activities because of their high levels of anxiety that are associated with communication. This can inhibit successful group communication because it can be a setback when group-members are asked to share their personal opinions or ideas. It is important for the group leader and remaining group members to take Communication Apprehension into consideration when communication in a group setting, and they should consistently remind all group members that they are working in a safe and positive environment.
To add to this idea, successful group communication can also be inhibited by group-members’ sensitivity of cultural differences present in the group. When one is part of a group, they should be aware that it is possible for the present cultures of that group to be versatile and individually unique. However, there are many that do not realize this fact, and will sometimes even try to avoid groupwork to ensure that they do not have to deal with this type of personal conflict. In Communicating in Groups: Building Relationships for Group Effectiveness, Joann Keyton writes, “You cannot avoid groups. Regardless of your experiences with and feelings about groups, it is unlikely that you will be able to avoid participating in them,” (Keyton, 2). As Keyton states, it is almost impossible to avoid participating in groups. In order to ensure that group-members find comfort in the community that they belong to, it is important that a safe and positive environment is established by the leader and group-members. Whether this consists of ice-breakers, different social events, or other methods, it is essential for all group-members to get to know and understand each other. By doing so, there will be no conflict regarding sensitivity to cultural differences throughout the group, and they will be more successful in the end.
All in all, managing a group and maintaining successful group communication can be difficult. Whether it is regarding issues in our control, such as sensitivity to cultural differences, or out of our control, such as Communication Apprehension, it is important that proper and fair communication habits are promoted throughout the group. Every leader and group-member should consistently provide a safe, fair, and loving environment to each other, so everyone can feel accepted and encouraged to put forth their best effort and to be themselves. Group work may be a difficult concept to grasp at times, but if everyone puts in the work and effort of creating a safe and accepting environment, they will achieve the most successful and egalitarian form of group communication.