The hardest part about working in a group in when ideas clash or goals differ. I think we dread it so much because we don't have complete control of the outcome whether the other individuals are lazy or just unrealistic. And another symptom of a bad group is when every individual is academically equal, and because of that no one takes the role of leader. Working with others can be difficult but the website http://www.hci.com.au/hcsite2/toolkit/smallgro.htm is dedicated to small group skills in communication.
The heading of "skills in leadership and participation" proved to be the most helpful because my theory is: If a group is working inefficiently, take the role of leader.
Leading can take the frustrations out of things because the biggest group clashes occur when there is no direction.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this blog and checking the website that you posted! I agree with you in the fact that there has to be someone in the group to take the role of the "leader." In the Ethics in Communication Handbook chapter 10 is all about small groups and how to be effective. There are 9 steps to take to make sure the group are successful. These groups are described starting on page 149 continuing through 160. These steps are defining small groups, ethics and group variations, group formation, membership, group contracts, internal process and practices, setting procedures, group roles, majority and minority relations and external relationships. After you work through these steps you will have everything set in place to have a successful group project!
Brett Henderson
Communications Graduate Student
Drury University
lhenderson01@drury.edu