Communicating in Groups

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Most of us will spend a substantial portion of our educational and professional lives participating in small groups or teams (usually between three and twenty people); and many of the experiences we have as speakers—in the classroom, workforce, and in virtual groups online—occur in a group setting. Groups often report on the results they’ve achieved, and some groups form solely for the purpose of coordinating oral presentations (see Chapter 28). Thus, understanding how to work cooperatively within a group setting is a critical skill.