Why do you talk to a crying baby?

Or a happy one, for that matter. The baby can't listen attentively, agree or disagree with you, help you, offer ideas, argue alternatives, or provide much response at all other than a smile or a continued wail.

Talking to a baby illustrates the pure relational component of a message. For the baby, your words have no content. Babies respond to the relational component.

When your words do have meaning for the listener, you still send a relational component in your message. Your facial expression, voice tone, body posture, politeness of speech, timing and so on all convey how you feel about the listener, just as your soothing voice speaks to a baby who cannot understand your words.

How Do You Build a Cohesive Team?

Team closeness is called "cohesiveness." Team members of highly cohesive groups have strong group loyalty; they work for the good of the group. If your team does not seem to be jelling into such a cohesive team, try some of thes techniques:

1. Give your team a public identity such as a name. In Effective Small Group Communication, Ernest and Nancy Bormann write that highly cohesive groups "work out ways to identify their group; sometimes these are as obvious as insignia or mascots or the use of nicknames."

2. Talk about your group in the plural. The Bormanns say, "Talk about we, our group, what we hope to accomplish, and how we can continue our excellent work." Forget the I.

3. Build group traditions and ceremonies. In group meetings, encourage the group to recall shared experiences. Common rituals and memories stress that the group has existed through time.

4. Recognize good work, and encourage others when they recognize good work. Pay particular attention to the quiet members and even the nonparticipating members. Often a little praise or attention will encourage their participation.

5. Set clear, attainable group goals. Achieving a goal is a reward. For that reason, you may need to set goals for the week or for the next meeting in addition to your final goal, so the group can see regular progress. The final goal should be a meaningful one,but it must also be one the group can reach.

6. Seek team recognition. Any rewards or recognition should be extended to the whole group, not just the leader.

7. Treat your team members as individuals. The Bormanns point out that one cause for lack of commitment is that team members feel "nobody recognizes them as human beings who amount to something."

Ernest and Nancy Bormann. Effective Small Group Communication. 6th ed. Minneapolis: Burgess, 1996: 137-139

Communication Tips: #1 - #3 - #4 - #5