Group Communication: Advocacy v. Inquiry
September 16, 2007
A common trend in the private and public sectors is to create groups as a means of gathering information in order to provide solutions. This has proven to be an effective method, from the formation of the "Delian League" in Ancient Greece to the handover of IBM’s hardware division to Lenovo in 2005. It sounds simple, but why do so many groups fail to communicate successfully?
Two factors are required for successful group communication:
- A group size no smaller than 5 and no larger than 12, and…
- A reasonable mixture of different personality types
Mental diversity is much more useful to the group than a pre-ordained ethnic mix. The four personality types to look at are "Analyzer," "Visionary," "Collaborator," and "Implementer." Mixing these four personalities, in a group of five to twelve members, ensures that there will be a healthy blend of advocacy and inquiry.
The Magic Number is From 5 to 12
By having at least five members, no single member can dominate the group, or, if they attempt to, agreement is almost impossible and the balance of the group resets the discussion on the issue. If the group is larger than twelve, the level of inquiry falls considerably. This is due to the feeling, common to members of a large group, that once you’ve stopped speaking, you’ll never be able to take the floor again.
By inquiring in a large group, you have effectively passed the lead to another member. Individuals use advocacy as a defense mechanism in large groups because while advocating, another member must forcibly interrupt in order to take the lead. Unfortunately, this creates a norm where rather than really listening, people are just waiting for someone else to finish talking. Eventually, this leads to disjointed communication and personal attacks that destroy the proceedings.
"Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something." (Plato)
Effective communication finds its origins in the "Socratic Method," an erudite term for asking direct, indirect, open, closed, or strategic questions. This is how effective group thought and discussion is generated. Successful communication is done best by maintaining that original group size at five to twelve and diffusing from that point exponentially.
Understanding the Four Personality Types
The only way for ideas or solutions from the group to be spread on a grand scale is through the appropriate representation of the various schools of thought.
Analyzers look at issues in terms of measurement, so to them solutions must be diagnostic. Their strength lies in their precision, but their weakness is their tendancy to overlook human elements in order to get to their number.
Visionaries see the game before it’s played. They know the major moves that need to be executed, but sometimes they overlook the smaller details associated with these overall strategies.
Collaborators work well with people to handle objections and build morale. This can help rally the team to take on the assignment. Unfortunately, collaborators also tend to engulf themselves in being part of the team and may miss deadlines or overlook budget constraints.
Finally, the implementers are capable and focused on executing the strategy. They are task and detail-oriented, but they tend not to fully understand the plan for the long-term. Implementers would be characterized as "what" people, meaning that they know what to do but not why they’re doing it.
The four personality types complement each other. When there is a near equal representation of personalities in a group of five to twelve, inquiry comes naturally because the members are looking at the issue from very different perspectives. As long as there is a basic level of professionalism in the group’s conduct, a practical solution can be derived.
Size Matters
The importance of group size can be seen in historic and everyday examples. There are 12 members on a jury, 8 members in a Navy Seal Group, 12 apostles, 9 Supreme Court Justices, 8 members of G8, and so on.
These are all groups composed of a diverse mixture of people or nations. They exist to serve a purpose, which is intended to bind them together only after they have explored a myriad of avenues. That exploration is done through the art of questioning and free expression.
When personal agendas are set aside, true group communication can occur. The size and profile of the group are the crucial part of the framework that leads to effective group communication.
For more information, see our other articles about organizational development.