Real Communication An Introduction

296 Part 3  Group and Organizational Communication

For this reason, making decisions by consensus—group solidarity in senti-

ment, belief, or decision—is often a better approach than making decisions by

majority vote. According to the consensus approach, everyone must agree on the

final decision before it can be implemented. It takes more time than deciding

by majority vote, but it can be a powerful way to enhance feelings of ownership

and commitment from group members. One caution, however, is to be careful

to encourage genuine consensus, rather than allowing group members to silence

their opposition in order to preserve group harmony!

Summarize Periodically

As a group explores and settles on decisions, it’s important that someone (a leader

or any member) regularly summarize what has happened. Summaries provide

members with opportunities to confirm, correct, or clarify what has occurred so

far during the conversation. Summaries thus help ensure agreement, formation

of next steps, and how members are to carry out their designated tasks.

Follow Up

After the meeting has concluded, group members should implement their deci-

sions and take stock of the results as well as the experience of working together.

A simple follow-up e-mail that details the decisions reached at the meeting can

ensure that everyone comes away with the same perceptions and is aware of what

each person must do to keep the group moving toward its goal.

Using Meeting Technology Effectively

Technology has changed the nature of meetings in both positive and negative

ways. Obviously, the ability to set up virtual meetings through teleconferenc-

ing and Internet videoconferencing makes it possible for groups to collaborate

over long distances. That’s how Julia, the freelance designer, is able to “attend”

a meeting with her client and his sales staff without leaving home. Such vir-

tual links can be beneficial for a team that

needs to actively communicate about some

issue or problem. But it also can be ineffec-

tive; the fact that everyone can be included

doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone must

be included. Julia, for example, did not need

to sit in on the meeting with the sales team;

she had little to add and gained nothing

by being there. Further, the ability to share

information with team members quickly

and efficiently via e-mail and file sharing

has enabled teams to avoid some meetings

altogether (Conlin, 2006). Julia and Jacob,

for example, might have e-mailed a link

to the beta version of the site to the entire

sales team rather than having a meeting to

discuss it in the abstract.

RESEARCH INDICATES

that although group members

work better face to face

initially, individuals who are

familiar with each other and

established as a team also

work productively with

videoconferencing technology.

Busco/Getty Images

Do you have experience

with group conflict as either

a group member or leader?

If so, how was this con-

flict handled? Did conflict

strengthen or weaken the

communication between

group members?

AND YOU?