The title of this book, Communicating in Groups: Building Relationships for Effective Decision Making , speaks to two fundamental components of group interaction: building relationships and making good decisions. In this text, students will discover the unique dynamics of group communication, the essential skills that lead to success, and the group roles, tasks, and processes that pave the way for effective group work. By examining groups from each of these viewpoints, students come to understand the dynamic capacity of each group and learn to treat each group as a unique communication opportunity. To be competent in group communication, as this text emphasizes, students must learn to identify each group situation as unique, assess what skills are needed, and effectively apply the appropriate skills and procedures. In essence, the goal of this text is to provide a toolbox from which students can draw in any group situation whether planning a function with a social club on campus or participating in a task oriented project in an academic or business context. To start this process, students must first become aware of their own communicating in groups and the ways in which it can be improved to enhance group dynamics. The emphasis here is on critical thinking, skills assessment, and practice.