I have a hard time working with my team in group projects. What can I do?

My group is so ineffective!!

Often, we are annoyed by how individuals in the group perform. Here are four tips that could help you;

1) Goal-Setting

2) Building the team

3) Communication

4) Be a role model

1) Goal-Setting

- What does your group desire to achieve, and what are the expectations for the quality of work produced? Prioritize setting criteria for the project and ensure the team is aligned with the direction forward.

- Conduct research before producing work. Ensure everyone tries to find more information regarding the topic. This allows clarity by understanding different viewpoints and unique approach for the project. Identify what are the useful keywords during research is essential!

2) Building the team

- Nominate a good leader who has the responsibility of influencing the team in the right direction. Clear instructions, clarification of doubts, and motivation are required to ensure the project is delivered timely.

- Adopt a Strengths-Based Approach. Entrust team members with specific roles and timelines according to their complementary capabilities. This keeps members driven and allows a greater sense of achievement upon success.

- Never assume taking the most effortless tasks is lucky! As a group, if a person is not performing well, it is our responsibility to help produce better work quality to ensure the final presentation meets the requirement.

- Build a relationship of trust. Transparent communication builds trust to allow members to feel respected, driven, and to provide help when necessary. This means letting group mates feel comfortable when sharing problems with their tasks.

- Empower each other. Give recognition for each member’s effort. Motivate and think of solutions together when setbacks occur instead of adopting a blaming approach.

3) Communication

- Communicate actively. Set a common time weekly to discuss the progress of work. The discussion could be done either online or offline, depending on the team’s working style.

- Communicate openly. If you encounter issues at the start or during the actual task, be honest, and raise it during the discussion in a comfortable way people can accept. This allows for alternative solutions to be derived. Never hold onto a problem till the end of the project or push your ideas.

- Encourage members to voice their opinions fully without putting them down. Let them portray their independent voice as this fuels discussion and provides more significant opportunities for the team’s growth.

- Practice Active Listening. Respect others by making them feel valued. Let them have a say first, as you may be convinced by the end of that conversation.

- Speak constructively. If you are trying to convince your team about a certain idea, back it up with a sound and logical explanation. Never be defensive and attack an idea haphazardly as this retards progress.

4) Be a role model

- Personal responsibility. Invest in your work, take pride in it, and hold yourself accountable. This proves to the team that you are committed to the project’s success.

- Meet expectations. Deliver on time, produce desirable results, and actively seek feedback from the team for improvement areas. This earns the trust of the team.

- Model good communication. Clarify doubts, seek assistance, and/or initiate discussion to move things forward. Be mindful to stay objective and logical.

- Trust and empowerment. Allow members to make their own decisions and recognize their efforts. Forgive mistakes and assist them pro-actively. The empowered team will trust and work with each other better.

Additional Tips

- What if my groupmate does not do work? 

Either they are struggling to find answers or simply not interested. You must identify them during the start of the project and find ways to motivate.

- How can I trust my groupmate who has a bad reputation for not performing? 

Use a weekly meeting to track the progress of their work. Ask specific questions to test their knowledge of the task they are handling. Show there is assistance available if required.

- What if the majority of my groupmates are not performing? 

Do you have very high expectations for the tasks, or are they not motivated? You must identify the differences and communicate to align expectations. The earlier you communicate, the more comfortable you can manage later on.