We all have that class that requires a group project, which could go really well or really bad depending on who you have in the group. This semester I have had numerous group projects, especially with a difficult group member. I even have a class that teaches you how to work in a group. So here are some tips for group projects to make them slightly less painful.

1. Pick your group members wisely.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-and-woman-shaking-hands-in-middle-of-brown-wooden-table-1265902/

This is probably the most crucial part of the process. You may want to work with your friends, but at the end of the day, you have to choose group members who will actually do work, and who you will work well with. Take note of who is always prepared for class, and be prepared yourself. The more you observe about potential group members the better. You want to make sure you have a group that is serious about the project.

2. Get everyone's phone number and email.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-silver-iphone-7-887751/

This is important because you need to communicate effectively with your group members. Make sure to get their phone numbers and email addresses, because you want to keep everyone in the loop. I suggest making a group chat, and in case someone does not answer you can email them.

3. Make a tentative game plan.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-writing-on-white-book-1043514/

In my class for teamwork, we learned about creating an effective plan for the project. You need to make sure you know what the ultimate goal is, and break it down into steps.

4. Assign tasks and make sure you stick with them.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-paper-with-people-diagram-print-900108/

You want to make sure everyone is on the same page throughout the entire project, so assigning tasks is a good way to make sure each part is getting done. It's a visual way to make sure everyone is doing their part.

5. Agree to disagree.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-wearing-suit-jacket-sitting-on-chair-in-front-of-woman-wearing-eyeglasses-1089563/

My best advice for dealing with difficult group members is to try to agree to disagree. You do not want to fail the project because you could not work with someone. Hear everyone's opinions out, make pros and cons lists. Ultimately if you have a team leader they should make the final decision, but they need to make sure to give everyone's ideas a fair shot. You need to make sure everyone is sharing the load, but that might be difficult. Just try your best to make sure everyone understand their duty, and most importantly, be nice about it.