- Have Clear Communication
Make sure to communicate plans, thoughts, and feelings properly. This is the best way to ensure that no miscommunications or problems arise from unchanged behaviors.Â
For plans and concerns, voice them immediately and clearly so they may be addressed while they’re relevant.
If you feel like someone is targeting you or not respecting your time, let them know so that they have the chance to fix it. If it doesn’t improve, discuss it with the team. Usually that will fix the issue, but if it doesn’t, escalate it to a supervisor/HR/professor.
- Have Timely Communication
Respond to messages within the same day, especially when it comes to planning. There are exceptions to this, such as if they send out a message late at night or during the weekend, in which it’s usually okay to wait until the next morning or weekday. If your group is planning on meeting during the weekend though, you should still respond even if they message you during the weekend.
- Respect Each Other’s Time
The next tip covers the amount of time necessary for a respectful notice of change. To respect each other’s time, follow the below tip and only reschedule meetings if you have an appropriate reason. Things like family emergencies or sickness are acceptable reasons for rescheduling. Things like scheduling another commitment over your meeting time after you had already planned the meeting or deciding you want to hang out with your friends instead are not acceptable reasons.
- Give at Least 24-hour Notice
It’s common courtesy to provide at least 24-hour notice of a change in plans, especially in things like meeting times. If a problem occurs, give immediate notice and don’t put it off until it affects others’ progress on the project. If a problem or change in plans occurs after the 24-hour mark, make sure to give immediate notice so that you maximize the amount of time your teammates have to react.
- Don’t be a “Yes Man”, but Don’t be Antagonistic
If there is someone in your group who is answering all the questions, make sure to consider whether you should immediately accept their solutions. Sometimes we like to go with the easiest answer, which is usually the first or loudest answer. Take a second to consider and don’t be afraid to speak up if you disagree. We love a devil’s advocate.
On the other hand, don’t make yourself the primary devil’s advocate and make discussion difficult because you disagree with everything. Pick your battles wisely and maybe even consider assigning a different member to be devil’s advocate during each meeting.
- Give Everyone a Chance to Speak
If you are a particularly vocal person, make sure to be conscious of how much everyone is participating and if you are dominating the conversation. If that is the case, encourage discussion with other group members. Ask questions like: “What do you guys think?”, “Does anyone have any ideas for a solution?”, etc.
- Provide Constructive Criticism, Not Destructive Criticism
When giving feedback to others, be conscious of whether what you are saying is actually constructive to the project. Be aware of how you phrase feedback so that you avoid confrontational and mean language. Instead, gear your wording towards development and well-meaning intentions. An example would be saying, “I love all the ideas you are providing. I’d also like it if we gave so-and-so a chance to pitch some ideas,” instead of, “You’re talking too much and it’s making it so we can’t hear other people’s ideas.” While both statements have the same point, the first one is less targeted and emphasizes that, while you’re asking them to talk less, you do appreciate their input. If this approach doesn’t work though, feel free to be more direct.
- Set Expectations/Goals/Deadlines
At the beginning of your assignment, meet with your team and lay out your expectations for the group, each individual member, and yourself. You should also use this time to set goals for the group/individuals and assign deadlines to these goals. Throughout the assignment, you should hold yourself and others accountable to these expectations, goals, and deadlines and make sure to communicate if you’re having trouble meeting them. For example, if you’re struggling to make a deadline, talk to your group partners. They might be able to lend you a hand on completing the task, or they might decide it is okay to push back your deadline a bit.
- Don’t Put Off Work Until the Last Minute
Even if you think you work better closer to deadlines, you should avoid leaving team work to the last minute as it can cause anxiety for your teammates. If you work better closer to deadlines, follow the step before and make explicit deadlines with your group for when you should finish your part. Find a system that works for you and still encourages you to complete your work in a timely manner.
- Treat Your Team Work Like You Would For Your Individual Work
When you’re working on a team, it’s easy to put group assignments on the back burner, and generally put less effort into it. It’s important to remember that team work also counts towards your grade or evaluation and can be considered just as important as your individual work. This means you should try and put the same amount of effort into your team assignments as you do for your individual work. If you feel like you’re struggling to put your best effort into the assignment, make sure to communicate this with your group and form solutions together.