Hey Holly,
What are the best ways to deal with annoying co-workers in group projects? I feel like they’re not pulling their part of the load, but I don’t know how to tell them so. How do I stop myself from getting frustrated by students who don’t even know how to write, Â so I have to go over everything they do all over again? How do I keep calm?
Thanks,
Grappling with Group Work
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Dear Grappling with Group Work,
Group projects…one of the biggest reasons to cringe when reading a class syllabus. These projects can go one of two ways; smooth sailing with a happy group, all contributing equally to the final product, or a train wreck where most of the work ends up being done by the minority of the group. We almost never hear of situations dealing with the former, and almost always hear about the horror stories of the latter.
Some tips to forming a good group:
- If you sit near people who are always in class but don’t know them, they may be a good option. You know they are dedicated enough to go to class and will probably work hard on the project as well.
- If you do decide to form a group with friends, make sure you know they have good study habits.
If you are in a situation where you have already committed to a group, things can be a little trickier. If you have taken the leadership role in the group and are delegating tasks, make sure you delegate the easier parts to those you don’t think will work very hard on the project. To avoid scrambling the night before it is due, make sure you set a deadline for those people in advance. That way, if more work needs to be done, there is still time to do so. If the work still isn’t in by the deadline you have set, calmly explain to the slacking member why it needs to be in early. For example, “I need to make sure it sounds cohesive and not like we just copy and pasted our parts together.” Hopefully this will light a fire under them in an attempt to get a better mark.
Even with these strategies in place things can still go wrong. If you are in a position where it’s getting close to the deadline and no one else has done their work, you have a few options. You could attempt to get together what you have and what they have done thus far in order to put the project together. If this doesn’t seem like an option, you can be up front with your group member(s) by telling them that, since they have not done any of the work, you will not be putting their name(s) on the project. However, as most of us don’t want to ruffle too many feathers when it comes to friendships and group projects, you might just have to bite your tongue and push through it. Remember, when the project is done life goes on. Try not to dwell on the situation, keep in mind that it will be over soon. You know that you did the work you were assigned, and that you took the initiative to ensure the project was done well. It may not be fair that you did the lion’s share of the work, but life isn’t always fair. As a consolation prize to having done the majority of the project, just think how much more you learned and the experience you gained for the future in how to choose your group more wisely!
XO,
Holly
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