Whether or not we wanted to, we have all been forced to do a group project at least once in our lives. It's torture. It's like pulling teeth to get everyone to take on an equal workload, and it's even harder to get certain people to actually do their share. With the new spring semester coming up in a few short weeks, I have some advice for those of you in high school and college...
1. Distribute roles ahead of time.
It may seem childish or corny, but it must be done. In order to make sure everyone will put in an even amount of work, you must distribute work and roles evenly before doing any work. Don't research a thing or create a slide on Google until you have a Google Doc of everyone's tasks.
2. Don't be late.
If you are meeting in person, don't be late. Five minutes or less is no biggie, but don't come by at 8:47 PM when your group agreed on 8:00 p.m.
3. Brainstorm!
It's true: no idea is a bad idea. OK, it's partially true. While one idea may be absolutely horrid, it could spark an idea in someone else's head for something amazing. Have a brainstorming session. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Let the ideas flow. Write them all down. At the end of the 10 minutes, pick out the best ideas.
4. Be respectful.
This goes along with brainstorming. If someone has an idea you're not fond of, don't bash them. Don't shoot them down immediately. Provide constructive feedback. "I don't know if doing X will work best for this, but if you add Y to it, it could work better." If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. Also if you aren't contributing any ideas, you can't bash other ideas that are thrown around.
5. Make it your best work.
It should be your best writing. Put in your best effort. Maybe even go overboard if it's a more creative assignment. Just make it look like you care. Shoot for an A+ not a C. Cs don't normally get degrees, just so you know.
6. Don't wait until the last minute.
Dudes, I get it. I am the WORST offender of procrastination. Between my ADHD and my anxiety, things get crazy for me. That being said, I know how to buckle down and do group projects because other people's grades are at stake. Think about that. Sure, I can risk my own grade, but how bad will you feel when other people get poor grades because of you?
7. Don't make excuses.
As much as they sound like they are, work, class, sports are not excuses. We all have other class, we all have other things we do like work or DI sports, and we all have to sleep at some point. But your group needs to be a priority. As stated above, other people's grades are based on you, too. The group shouldn't scrambling at the due date because you had a field hockey game upstate or you decided to pick up an extra shift. You should to let your group know ahead of time of your other commitments if you're afraid they'll interfere. You need to get your work done prior to your game or extra shift or whatever.
8. Don't be bossy.
It's a group project, not Donnie's project and you're all there to do his bidding. You can designate a group leader, but the group leader should still be pulling their weight.They're just the leader to ensure everyone is contributing equally and that the whole project comes together on time.
9. Dress appropriately.
Leave the flannel pajama pants in your room. If you have to do a presentation as a group, don't show up looking like a you just rolled out of bed. No, you don't need to show up in a suit and tie or a pencil skirt and blazer (though some classes may recommend that). You should at least show up looking put together. Jeans and a flannel or sweater are perfectly acceptable. Baggy shorts or baggy sweatshirts are a no-no. Be mindful of your neckline and hemline. Pro Tip: If Grandma or Auntie would make a comment, it's probably not appropriate. It's a presentation for Pete's sake.
10. Don't burn bridges.
Whether you know it or not, it's a great networking tool. Not everyone in the group is going to be a good friend to keep and you might have had an awful time working in that group, but it doesn't hurt to grow your circle of acquaintances. Maybe Sally is also in your macro class. Chances are you'll see her a couple more times over the next four years. She might be a good asset while studying for the final or down the line when you're taking Principles of Auditing.
Whatever the class may be, just remember you're not just working for your own grade. You're working for the grades of 2 or more people. Be the best version of you during this project. Show up on time, work hard, be great. Feel free to be a slacker outside of the group. Just don't risk the grades and reputations of others.
