Consultants who observe but do not participate in a group’s
discussion can help a group by reminding members of principles they have
forgotten, by
teaching members procedures and techniques, and by critiquing a group’s
performance. Students who have taken a course in small group communication
can be effective
consultants; their skills are enhanced through observation and practice.
Because it is impossible to keep track of all variables
at once, consultants should plan their observations by focusing on the most
important
or most problematic aspects of a group’s interaction.
Consultants report their findings to groups honestly and
constructively, always respecting members’ confidentiality.
Many different kinds of prepared observation forms and
questionnaires can help consultants (and also group members) gather information
about a group
in order to assess the group’s performance. The forms included in the chapter can
serve as models for describing a group’s verbal interaction, analyzing the
members’
behaviors and discussion content, providing post-meeting evaluations to
group members, and rating many other aspects of groups.
