Posted: September 1st, 2023
7 tips for surviving a group project
Working in a
group project is not always a walk in the park. However, with great
determination and organization, group work can be a great learning experience.
There are several things that a student can do to survive in a group project.
Choose the best team members
Having
shared the same class with your course mates. You understand their character
and habits. You can distinguish the unreliable from intelligent and cooperative
students. Join the ones who cherish teamwork and work with them. Keep in mind
that the group is just temporary and good grades matter.
Have a positive attitude.
Stay
positive about the group and cooperate with them. A negative attitude will make
group work more stressful. Take this as an opportunity to learn and believe
that it is preparing you for future roles. Some members may be pessimistic
about the group, don’t allow them to influence you. Keep it positive.
Clarify expectations and roles
Analyze the
project in detail and understand the different tasks that are supposed to be
executed. Delegate the tasks. Set goals and deadlines and agree on when to hold
group meetings. Note the information down to avoid confusion.
Choose a leader
The first
thing you should do after the introduction is choosing a leader. A leader plays
a pivotal role in the entire process. He keeps everyone on toes and tracks the
progress of individuals. In case there is no one willing to take that position,
volunteer. Although leadership is tough it prepares you for management roles.
Communicate
Make sure
you keep communication alive from the onset till you hand in the project. You
can use Facebook groups, tweets, phone calls and emails to reach out to other group
members. Google docs through the Gmail account is also a good communication
channel as members can work on a document together.
Don’t procrastinate
Start
working on the project as soon as you are assigned. Working on a project at the
last minute raises anxiety. Working on it on time creates room for seeking clarifications
and materials that are required.
Appreciate the diversity of ideas
Every group
is made up of people from different backgrounds. They all have different
strengths and weaknesses. Do not look down on some people, instead appreciate
and listen carefully to every person’s point of view. This will enrich your
project as you will have incorporated different ideas.