People often use the quote, “teamwork makes the dream work” to explain that working together can result in better outcomes than working alone. Who knew that words so encouraging could be so misleading?
If you’ve taken a business class at NAIT, you’ve probably had to do a group project. I’m sure other programs have them too, but every business student groans when they see group projects on the syllabus. In my experience, group projects are distracting and lead to unnecessary drama among group members.
Growing up, I even disliked hearing the word teamwork, as I knew it meant relying on others just to get the task done. My dislike for group work grew even stronger as instructors assigned groups in the class. Not only does everyone want to just be partnered with their friends, but when that doesn’t happen, I find classmates shut down and put their needs before the group.
It doesn’t help that if I had to describe myself in one word, it would be outspoken. I am not afraid to voice my opinions and make my presence known. That can be intimidating to people who don’t know me that well, and as a result, it has contributed to years’ worth of bad luck. I would always find myself being partnered with people who didn’t like me and were looking for any excuse to make me look bad.
I believe that collaboration is a big part of teamwork. Everybody should be able to share their thoughts and ideas with the group without feeling left out. But it often seems like there is always one individual whose ego interferes with the success of the group. They insist on having things their way, and honestly, I can’t stand it. All egos aside, teamwork is important, and I understand why we’re forced to do so many group projects. Every human being is blessed with their own set of skills and strengths, and when the team works as a collective, everyone has an opportunity to learn from each other.
At the end of the day, you may not be fond of your team members, but one thing all group members share is needing to complete the task at hand. Set clear expectations with your partners, try to match everyone’s skills and responsibilities and do your best to listen actively to any concerns raised.
Group work can be challenging, so it’s important to start projects in a positive, organized manner. Even if you dread group projects, there’s no better feeling than successfully working as a team so everything all works out in the end. And who knows—you might even create some new bonds and make some new friends out of it.
