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Master the art of collaboration with our insights on working effectively in groups, ensuring productive and harmonious teamwork.
There are advantages and potential pitfalls of group collaboration projects, and at university you will need to develop your group work skills as some of your course may be based on this type of assessment.
The assessment is designed to demonstrate how well you have met the learning outcomes of the module.
Engaging in group work presents a unique opportunity to harness the benefits of collaborative efforts, confront and overcome shared challenges, and develop essential skills for navigating complex interpersonal dynamics.
Here we discuss some of the benefits, challenges and ways in which you can overcome and navigate any obstacles.
Create realistic schedules, set interim deadlines for milestone tasks, and allocate sufficient time for planning, collaboration, and revision.
Agree and set timescales that the group can efficiently work towards. Emphasize the importance of prioritization and delegation to optimize productivity.
Communication breakdowns, misinterpretations, and language barriers can hinder effective collaboration and cause misunderstandings or conflicts within the group.
Differences in opinions, personalities, or working styles may give rise to conflicts within the group, requiring effective conflict resolution strategies to address and reconcile divergent viewpoints.
Ensuring the quality and consistency of work produced by the group can be challenging, particularly when group members have varying levels of expertise, standards, or attention to detail.
Agree on roles, responsibilities, and deadlines for individual contributions at the beginning and ensure equal participation of all group members.
Document tasks and progress, and conduct regular progress reviews or peer evaluations.
cultural differences in communication styles, decision-making processes, and norms of collaboration.
Foster a positive group culture based on mutual respect, and promote inclusivity and peer support.
Celebrate success, acknowledge contributions and if challenges arise, address these as a team in an open, honest, and fair way.
In a group setting, neurotypical and neurodiverse people will have different experiences. Here are some ways to help make working in a group more inclusive:
Behavioural diversity can greatly benefit group work, as having a balance of personalities is crucial, albeit not always feasible. Thus, when collaborating within a group, it's vital to capitalize on individual differences. Appreciating the varied combination of people and behaviours is essential for ensuring the success of a team throughout the entirety of an assignment, from inception to completion.
While Belbin group roles can offer a structured way to understand diverse behaviours, it is important to recognise that people display a combination of behaviours, so it is not always possible to easily identify one dominant behavioural type.
It can, however, offer new groups or teams the opportunity to reflect on their behaviours and focus on their self-awareness to better understand how behaviours can impact group dynamics and performance.
Consider using Belbin's Group Roles to enhance the effectiveness of group work, plus it can be fun trying to establish which role you best fit.
Here’s how you can apply Belbin's Group Roles to work effectively as a group:
By strategically applying Belbin's Group Roles, you can create a well-rounded team that leverages the unique strengths of each member, leading to more effective and harmonious group work.
Communication can include the way we choose to dress on any particular day, the gestures we make when interacting with people, and the language or tone we use.
Effective communication involves active listening, empathy, and compromise.
"The quality of your attention determines the quality of other people's thinking."
Active listening is a fundamental communication skill that involves fully engaging with the person you are communicating with, understanding their message, and responding appropriately.
It can be useful to use verbal cues (e.g., "I see," "I understand", "Go on," "Tell me more") to signal interest and understanding.
Most important of all, do not be afraid of the silent pauses!
It is important to acknowledge other peoples emotions, respect their perspectives, and show understanding and compassion. Use inclusive and considerate language and provide constructive and supportive feedback that focuses on ideas and efforts rather than personal criticism.
This facilitates mutual understanding. It allows conflicting parties to find common ground and reach mutually acceptable solutions. By acknowledging each other's perspectives and needs, individuals can resolve disagreements and conflicts more effectively, leading to greater harmony and cooperation.
"Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words."
To facilitate group work the Library has collaborative learning spaces and group study rooms that can be booked in advance.
Seek assistance from tutors proactively if difficulties arise or guidance is required.
