Dealing With the Dynamics of Group Work in College

Group Work. One of the most significant activities in our College Life. We have all been put in situations where we are made to work with people we don’t want to. Many college’s follow the system of “Admin Groups”, where groups are divided roll number wise and you don’t have a choice in the matter. You are stuck, helpless, bewildered, agitated. What do you do? How do you handle it?

College group projects can be a hefty task without understanding group dynamics. It is important to know and accept that each individual is different and has their own working style – unless of course, they just don’t work. The different types of people that you encounter in every work group needs to be treated differently in order to avoid conflicts thereby disrupting the flow of work.

Don’t worry- we at College Uncovered have some amazing advice for you to deal with this and make decoding the science behind group dynamism a piece of cake! Here are some stereotypical people you will meet, and how to deal with them.

1. The person always wearing the Invisibility Cloak

WHO?

It’s funny, because you can easily identify this person even though he/she is NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. Your classmates swear that this person is in your class but in retrospect even they barely see him. This person will reply on the Whatsapp group once in a blue moon, and when they do, it will be completely unrelated to the topic of discussion. So you know not to get your hopes up when the next Group Meeting is announced.

HOW?

This is a rather unfortunate situation to be in, because confronting this person (If he/she is anywhere to be found) is a no-go. The only other option you have here is to tell your teacher to get him/her replaced. No one likes to carry someone else’s burden when they have their own to bear. And if you do, I salute you.

2. Self-Proclaimed Leader & Control Freak

WHO?

This is the most recognizable person as his/her voice is the only one you can hear, everything else is just added noise. They will be in constant contact with everyone, but trust no one to do the important job. They are extremely concerned about how the project will turn out which is a good thing because they care. Maybe, a little too much though.

HOW?

This person deserves appreciation, so give it to them. This can bring their guard down, and then, let them know in a not-so-straightforward way that you are also perfectly capable of doing your own work. It is important to let this person know that they can count on you when stressful situations arise to avoid conflicts.

3. The Silent Knight

WHO?

You will see a lot of this person, but not hear him/her speak. They will be physically present but mentally somewhere else. You can expect them to come for meetings but give 0 contribution. This silence is actually not ascribed to introverted-ness, but to disinterest and laziness.

HOW?

You can handle this person by probing every other group member to speak so that he/she does not feel like they are being called out. Direct questions however would be necessary if the answer you receive is dissatisfactory. Being lively and positive with this person may help them open up, you just have to be patient.

4. The Professional Procrastinator

WHO?

These are the kind of people that will almost give you a heart-attack. They don’t mind taking on responsibility, but will always keep it till the very end even though there is a time crunch. “At the end of the day, I did the work bro” is their defense mechanism. Not everything is bad though, at least they care about getting work done and take on tasks in the first place.

HOW?

Creating individual deadlines would be the way to go. People work differently, but if he/she is lagging behind in the flow of work, that’s unfair. This requires a simple conversation between you and this person, heart to heart, where you explain the problem to him/her in a calm and composed manner. More often than not, they should understand.

5. The Person Who Doesn’t Walk the Talk

WHO?

This person will always say that he will achieve the highest of targets, possesses the best skills, is on top of his work, and knows a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy. The best part is you cannot see any tangible proof to substantiate his claims till the submission date, so you will just have to trust him. The promises made are in good intention, no doubt, but he/she will always fall short in some way or the other which can affect reliability and overall group performance.

HOW?

Make sure that everyone’s work is up to the promised mark well in advance from the day of submission. Constructive criticism is the best way to handle such a person, but make it clear that next time the expectations need to be met. Else, don’t expect it at all. No one likes surprises on D-day.

(College Uncovered 2020)