"The second edition of Creative Effective Groups provides an introduction to the study of small group communication, including the areas of group decision making, group problem solving, group dynamics, leadership, and team building. This practical book gives students the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to communicate more effectively and interact more productively in the small group setting. This updated edition of Creating Effective Groups contains new sections on reducing speaking anxiety, increasing intercultural understanding - including the S.O.A.R. technique for intercultural awareness - and more. The book also presents new end-of-chapter exercises."--BOOK JACKET.

Creating Effective Groups, Third Edition gives students the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to communicate more effectively and interact more productively in the small group setting. This new edition features all new sections on diversity, group dynamics, online resources, and social media.

Creating Effective Teams: A Guide for Members and Leaders, 3rd Edition is a practical guide for building and sustaining top performing teams. Based on the author’s many years of consulting experience with teams in the public and private sector, the Third Edition describes why teams are important, how they function, and what makes them productive. The author clearly illustrates the developmental nature of teams and describes what happens in each stage. Separate chapters are devoted to the responsibilities of team leaders and team members. Problems that occur frequently in groups are highlighted, followed by what-you-can-do sections that offer specific advice. Real-life examples and questionnaires are used throughout the book, giving readers the opportunity for self-evaluation. New to the Third Edition: Discussions of diversity within teams havebeen added throughout the text, focusing on how different ethnic or cultural groups may have differing perceptions of group interactions. Also provided will be specific strategies for ensuring that groups are respectful of these different beliefs while still being as effective as possible. References to the research the text is based on will be added, giving readers the theoretical and research background for the practical, application-based material in the text. More real-life examples and problem-solving skills will be added, including step-by-step directions for becoming a high-performing team. New checklists and self-evaluations will be added, building on those currently included in the text and providing even more information on what kind of leader or team member the reader is.

Great Groups is a practical and inspirational guide that serves as a foundational text to creating and leading groups. Designed primarily for the beginning group worker from any of the helping professions, the book also acts as a valuable resource for those with more group experience. Grounded in theory, but with a strong focus on practice and skill development, David R. Hutchinson strives to connect directly with the reader with his personal and engaging writing style and "learn by doing" approach. Following a hypothetical group from start to finish, with a plethora of examples and reflection exercises in each chapter, the book has a threefold purpose: to provide the reader with specific tools for creating, understanding, and leading effective groups; to help the reader consider the application of theory to practice; and to spur the reader to seriously consider making group work a cornerstone of his or her professional practice.

A range of expert contributors explores the design and leadership of groups, providing detailed descriptions of twenty-seven diverse work groups—including task forces, top management groups, production teams, and customer service teams—to offer insights into what factors affect group productivity, and what leaders and group members can do to improve work group effectiveness.