Collaboration can be quite a challenge. Some people thrive under pressure, typing paragraphs minutes before the deadline. Others have a tight schedule and tick off action items daily. During a group assignment, you still have to find a way to collaborate. Sometimes this goes very smoothly, and you fly through the assignment. Susanne offers tips for when your group assignment isn't going so well.
Susanne, a second-year International Business student, has already completed quite a few group assignments. "The most important thing is communication," she says. "Without good communication, there's no good collaboration." During a group assignment, you get to know your fellow students, but also yourself. You develop skills that you can take with you to work after graduation. But how can you collaborate even better?
Before you start the group assignment
Your group for the assignment has been formed and you're all ready to go. Before diving into the content, take some time to sit down together and make clear agreements. This way, you'll know exactly what to expect from each other and can collaborate more effectively during the group assignment.
Your group for the assignment has been formed and you're all ready to go. Before diving into the content, take some time to sit down together and make clear agreements. This way, you'll know exactly what to expect from each other and can collaborate more effectively during the group assignment.
Before you start the group assignment, it's helpful to discuss how everyone prefers to work. Do you enjoy working alone? Or do you prefer working in a group? By discussing this beforehand, you can plan accordingly.
Make clear agreements with your group about how you'll work together. Will you agree to always be on time for meetings? Or to always hand in your work on time? Then also make agreements about what happens if someone is late or doesn't hand in their work on time. What are the consequences? How will you address each other when necessary? Discuss this together before starting the group assignment and make clear agreements.
Sometimes it feels a little unnatural because we're all students, but it's helpful when one person takes the lead.
During the group assignment
When carrying out the group assignment, there are several things you can keep in mind to ensure optimal collaboration. Make smart use of each other's talents and maintain good communication, and the assignment will fly by.
Consider what needs to be done and divide the tasks effectively. Pay close attention to your own talents and those of others. Which task best suits which person? Does someone have a keen eye for detail? Then assign them to data analysis, for example. Is someone a fluent speaker? Then have them conduct interviews. By assigning everyone a task that suits them well, you also share the responsibility. A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved, right?
It might seem a bit odd, since you're all students, but it can be helpful to appoint a leader. Someone who can keep a close eye on the schedule, double-check your work before you submit it, or speak to a fellow student when needed. When choosing a leader, consider someone's qualities. That quiet, shy student might actually be a great leader! Discuss it among yourselves and appoint your group leader together.
Is everything going perfectly? Keep it up! But don't be afraid to speak up when things aren't going so well. You can do this quickly via text or email, but it's much better to talk to each other in person at school. It can be nerve-wracking to talk to a fellow student because, for example, they haven't handed in their work on time. In that case, you can enlist the help of your group leader to have a conversation with the other student together. If you really can't figure it out, you can also ask your teacher for help.
The most important thing is communication. Without good communication, there is no good collaboration.
After the group assignment
Assignment submitted, grade in, group project done! Or not? Even if the assignment is already submitted, you can still learn from it.
Once you've received your grade, check in with your group again to discuss how it went. Are you happy with your grade? How did the collaboration go? Can you make any improvements for your next group assignment?
After the group assignment, reflect on your own role. Did your talents shine in the task you were given? Is there anything you'd like to do differently in the next group assignment? You can take the skills and knowledge you gained during a group assignment and apply it to the next one.