As defined by Julia Wood in "Communication in Our Lives," group norms are "standardized guidelines that regulate how members act and how they interact with each other." In practice, norms may determine when meetings are held, how tasks are divided or even how members address each other. Therefore, norms are an important part of group communication, both verbally or nonverbally. Verbally, explicitly stating norms that govern group procedure increases the chances of group cohesiveness in all group proceedings. Nonverbally, norms play a role in how members address each other, what tone is used and how formally the group interacts.
The type of communication that takes place between members determines the communication climate of the group. Once developed, the climate affects the style of both verbal and nonverbal communication. According to "Communication Counts," there are two primary types of communication climate in groups: supportive and defensive. Supportive communication climates feature communication built around verbal and nonverbal messages that exhibit mutual understanding and empathy among groups members. Groups that feature defensive climates are characterized by communication that evaluates other members. Critical tone of voice and messages exhibiting superiority are characteristics of this type of climate.
As in all aspects of human interaction, conflict is inevitable between group members. Whether it is simply discussion regarding roles within the group, or a more substantial argument regarding group choices, the style of conflict management is important to group communication. Open verbal communication increases the chance of conflict being recognized within the group, as well as the ultimate source of the issue. Once identified, the style of communication climate plays a role in the type of management employed. More defensive climates increase the likelihood of competitive management styles focused on defeating each other, while supportive climates will foster management focused around working together toward a common solution.
The decision-making methods employed by a group can affect both the process of reaching the group's goal and the member interactions during that process. Groups that employ open brainstorming, featuring verbal messages encouraging a variety of ideas, are more likely to develop a final decision that all members support. Once the thought process has been completed, the ultimate decision-making process reflects the climate of the group and the norms established between members. If the group has established a supportive climate, the chances of a group consensus are more likely. In other cases, the group may require decision by majority vote, leader choice or outside arbitration.