Group Project Survival Skills

Communication

The goal of a group project is to successfully address a question or problem creatively, effectively and efficiently...the idea being that "two heads/hands are better than one!" In order to get members to contribute, they need to believe that their ideas will be listened to and are in fact wanted. One of the critical elements for strong group work is communication that provides a safe and empathetic environment. In order to accomplish this several strategies need to be used:

Get to know each other personally; use humor and personal stories; some groups create team names to develop an identity.

Make sure everyone understands and agrees on the goal of the project.

Use active listening skills and constructive feedback when discussing ideas to encourage more involvement.

Update members on progress regularly in writing progress: through e-mail, shared online discussion board or group website.

Learn about the differences in communication styles among varying cultures to encourage participation and decrease misunderstandings.

Group Project Survival Skills

Where to start?

Group Roles?