You possess certain enduring traits that affect your communication no matter what the situation. For example, if you are an extravert, you are generally social and outgoing and tend to seek out interactions with people, whether you are chatting with your sister or making a speech (Littlejohn & Foss, 2010). However, when it comes to small groups, there are two communication traits that are especially important: communication apprehension and argumentativeness.

Communication Apprehension. Have you ever been afraid to speak up and say what’s on your mind, like Peter Brand was with the baseball scouts? If so, you may have experienced communication apprehension—fear or anxiety about real or anticipated communication (McCroskey, 2008). Most people experience a small amount of communication apprehension from time to time—for example, when giving a speech. (We discuss how to handle speech anxiety in Chapter 15.) But some individuals experience apprehension on such a regular basis that it becomes part of how they communicate. Known as high communication apprehension, this can be so paralyzing that it prevents a person from communicating in everyday situations, such as chatting with coworkers. Naturally, this can result in negative consequences. For example, college students with high communication apprehension experience less academic success in classes that require a lot of discussion compared to students who aren’t as fearful about communication (McCroskey & Andersen, 1976). In groups, someone who’s nervous and silent may appear to other members as aloof, stiff, withdrawn, or restless (McCroskey, Daly, & Sorensen, 1976). As a result, the other members may wrongly assume that the apprehensive person doesn’t care about the group’s goals, and they may stop trying to elicit contributions from him or her.

If you experience communication apprehension in groups, you can try to reduce your fear with focused practice. Start by asking simple questions to clarify points made during group discussions. Provide brief comments of support for others when it’s appropriate (“Yes, I think that’s a good idea”). Try to anticipate what topics may be under discussion or what questions might be asked, and prepare messages you can contribute in advance. Knowing what to say ahead of time will make it easier to speak up. If you believe your communication apprehension is really holding you back, find the courage to talk with an instructor who can direct you to resources that may help.

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Argumentativeness. Whereas high communication apprehension can make small group communication challenging, a trait that can enhance it is argumentativeness. Argumentativeness is the willingness to take a stance on controversial issues and verbally refute others who disagree with you (Infante & Rancer, 1982). Although the word argument carries negative connotations, it can be a positive form of communication in small groups. That’s because argumentativeness fosters the exchange of ideas, which is valuable for group decision making. Being highly argumentative is not the same as being verbally aggressive, which is characterized by hostile personal attacks on others (Infante, 1987). Instead, someone who is argumentative openly disagrees with ideas without making it personal. If you disagree with your teammate and say, “I see where you’re coming from, but I’m not sure we can meet that deadline with our current resources,” you are showing argumentativeness. But if you say, “That’s a stupid idea! Don’t you have any understanding of how limited our resources are?” it’s verbal aggression. Since highly argumentative individuals separate issues from people, they tend to communicate well in groups and often emerge as group leaders (Limon & La France, 2005).

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Argumentativeness encourages groups to think through and debate ideas, something the Pixar teams do when creating their successful films. This boosts the chances that a group will end up choosing the best possible ideas to act on. Constructive arguing also strengthens bonds in a group. When group members are argumentative, they are more likely to be satisfied with the group relationship and to believe that the group has reached consensus on decisions (Anderson & Martin, 1999). Despite the advantages of argumentativeness, there’s a constructive way to argue and a not-so-constructive way, which can lead to unproductive conflict. Chapter 12 presents strategies for effectively dealing with conflicts in small groups.