Avoid them at all cost.
1. The Ghost
Just like a ghost, some people wonder if this group member actually exists. They never are at group meetings and do not tell anyone why. You occasionally see them in class, but they always dart out before you can confront them. You should not expect them to get anything done.
2. The Sloth
It can be extremely frustrating when a group member takes forever to do their work and always misses the deadlines. Luckily, this team member does help out a little, but often times others will need to finish the project when the due date is approaching.
3. The Distractor
This group member is more tiresome than helpful. They are that person who always seems to be talking and everything they say is not related to the project. During group meetings everyone gets pulled off on random tangents and little progress is made.
4. The Complainer
We all know somebody who fits in this category. Rather than providing any useful input, the complainer does what the name implies. They complain about the project, their busy schedule, their friends, their family, their job, and everything else under the sun. This member is similar to the distractor, but focused on negatives and getting sympathy.
5. The Copycat
While some people accidentally plagiarize, that is all this group member does. You are not sure if they are capable of having a single original thought and you always toss out their work because it is straight from somewhere else. Occasionally, the copycat will even take ideas from other teammates.
6. The Politician
A person who is not willing to listen to their team can be devastating. This member is one who always thinks their way is the best, no matter what. This is not much of a problem if they have good ideas, but if they do not, it is not fun for anyone. In extreme cases this member will split from the group and do their own separate project.
7. The Minimalist
The Minimalist is a person who does the least amount of work possible to still pass the class. In some situations this member will try to pull their own weight, but their work will be such poor quality that other group members will have to re-do it.
8. The False Prophet
At first glance this group member appears to be incredibly hard working and ambitious. This is the person who is always eager to take on any extra work that comes up. The rest of the team thinks they are lucky to get this member, but at the last minute, the False Prophet drops the ball and has finished nothing. All the extra work is dumped back on the team and they must scramble to get it done in time.
9. The Trainwreck
Similar to the sloth, this team member often misses deadlines. In this case, it is due to their horrible time management and organization skills. This member might completely forget the due date and greatly hurt your team. However, if they are constantly reminded, they do manage to get their fair share done, and decently at that.
10. The Unavailable
Most people are ecstatic when they first get put in a group with this person. After all, this person is the president of two clubs, in the honors program, working part time, and playing a varsity sport. This project will be nothing for them, right? This member is doing so much it is nearly impossible to find a meeting time with their busy schedule and they always make excuses for not getting work done.
