Show That You Are Listening

Active listening is essential for successful small group communication. There are many barriers that can cause someone to stop listening to the person they are communicating with like lack of interest and external and internal noise. Although there may be many obstacles to achieve active listening, there are many response methods that can help: paraphrasing, expressing understanding, asking questions, and using gestures.

At my work, doctors transition patients to me so I can help the patient with their glasses. During the transition, the doctor always states what they prescribed to the patient. While the doctor tells me the prescription, I always nod to show that the doctor has my attention. If the doctor is aware that he or she has my attention, then they will continue to talk. In small group communication, this is very effective because it allows the speaker to be comfortable in sharing all their ideas. In the end, this can contribute to the success of the group.

Another procedure at work is to paraphrase the prescription after the doctor has finished speaking. Information must be repeated several times to gain access to one's long-term memory (119). This is a great technique because it saves a great deal of time instead of having to go back and ask the doctor if someone forgets. Active listening allows the speaker to know you are interested and are paying attention. 

Know What You're Listening To

Selective attention can be deadly in small group communication. When someone chooses one message over another, they are losing out on the other message. People tune out certain messages because they are not interested, it doesn't involve them, it is the opposite of their view point, or the material is difficult to understand.

In my business ethics class, my professor assigns reading before each lecture. I came into class one day without reading the pages he assigned. I sat in my chair and became easily distracted because the material was hard to follow. On days I kept up with the reading, I sat in class and listened to the whole lecture. During the whole lecture, I would tell myself, "I remember reading that!" If I tune out my professor because I didn't read the book, I am losing out on certain questions that my professor could have answered in his lecture. Knowing and reading about the material before a discussion is a great way to overcome selective hearing.

Retaining a Message

Listening is a critical point in communication. Not only do messages have to be sent, but receivers must be able to interpret the message that has been sent for effective small group communication. There are four important components that make listening successful: hearing the message, interpreting the message, evaluating the message content, and retaining and responding to the message.

Whenever my family needs me to do something for them, the phase that I have the most difficult time with is retaining the message. Usually, when they need me to do something for them I respond and I repeat the message to myself after they leave. My family knows that I tend to forget a lot. To help my memory and to overcome my forgetfulness, my family tends to remind me more than once by telling me again, leaving me a note, or texting me. Another technique that helps me to remember is writing it down. When I have my planner available, I usually write the message in there. Other times, I usually just write important messages on my hand. This technique also helps when I have important things to do at work. Writing something down or reminding yourself more than just a few times is a good technique to retaining messages.

Semantics

Semantics is defined as the study of meaning construction in language (95). In verbal communication functions, meanings are in people, not words. For example, a word can mean a certain thing in the dictionary, but when people use the word, it can mean something completely different. The word "ratchet" in the dictionary is defined as a tool. Nowadays, the youth in the Bay Area use the word to describe something ghetto. Language is also symbolic and represents the context. The book provides an example of a 2.5 grade point average. The GPA doesn't portray what the person actually learned, but it symbolizes the learning that they received. Not only is language symbolic, but it conveys meaning about observations, inferences, and judgements. For example, in the Casey Anthony trial, Casey was a potential suspect for killing her daughter. The evidence showed observations that led the public to believe she actually killed her daughter. When she was allowed to walk, the public made judgements based on the observations. All these principles are important for small group communication.

Proxemics and Chronemics

Proxemics is the study of space and how we use it to communicate. If the physical proximity between two people is slightly closer to one another, it conveys they both have something in common. The closer two people are also promotes warmth. According to Edward T. Hall's reaction bubble, depending on the measurement of the distance, it can be  considered public space, social space, personal space, or intimate space. Countries like Norway, Germany, America use the reaction bubble. On the other hand, Asian cultures and Latin cultures use a different scale. My brother-in-law is Honduran and their space is handled differently. In his culture, everyone is usually standing close together and hugging and kissing are common. Each culture handles their space differently and it is extremely important to know how close you can be with someone.

Chronemics is the study of the use of time. According to Wikipedia, monochronic people (Americans) are more concerned with reaching their deadline and getting the job done. On the other hand, polychronic people (Latin American, African, Asian, and Arabic) like building relationships and doing more than one thing at a time. Here in America, getting the job done and reaching your deadline is extremely important. Reaching your deadline shows a lot about your character. If you are punctual, then employers will find you an eligible candidate for a job. Chronemics is essential for group work and becoming successful. 

Doing What's Right

Nonverbal communication is vital for small group functions. There are eight principles of nonverbal communication.

One important principle is the second one stated in the book: our nonverbal communication is likely to be believed more than our verbal communication. This principle explains that one cannot just verbally make a statement. One’s actions are what make the statement believable. During a small group project last semester, each member in the group chose what task they were going to complete. One person did not finish their task, resulting in trust lost. Throughout the duration of the project, it was much more difficult to work with that person because we did not trust them.

Another essential principle is the fourth principle: nonverbal behaviors are guided by the context and power of relationships. This principle states that actions are guided by “doing the right thing at the right time” (99). A good example would be my coworkers. I work with many patients and customers in a doctor’s office/retail environment. We are required to be very kind to each person that we provide services to because of the power of the relationships. If we are rude, then we lose our relationships with the people that put the money towards our paychecks. Our actions are significant for successful small group communication.