Group dynamics can be defined as the ways people interact and behave in a group environment. Group work has many advantages, as outlined on the home page. Group work can have one big disadvantage however: other people. You have (or should have!) a fair idea of who you are and how you will react and respond in given situations. Everyone is unique. Different people have different abilities, personalities, responses and ways of working. This can be good or not so good. You might have assumptions about the way you can communicate with others and the way that others can communicate with you. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflict that will harm the work of the group
To minimise conflict, the group needs to agree on what is acceptable or appropriate in terms of interactions and participation. On the Getting Started page it's suggested that you have a group working agreement. This agreement can include rules or guidelines for how to behave in meetings, how to communicate with each other and how to deal with tensions or disagreements.
The Golden Rule is a rule of ethical conduct that states "you should treat others as you'd like to be treated." That means respecting and valuing other people. In terms of participating in groups it means:
People work better when they feel comfortable, respected, safe, and valued.
Conflicts need to be recognized and resolved quickly. Decide early on how to handle disagreements and decision-making.
A study group is cooperative, not competitive. Make sure to use individual members’ interests and abilities.
It is important to periodically assess how the group is working. Do changes need to be made? Are interests, motivations, and commitments being maintained?
Conflicts can arise for several reasons
Suppose you're naturally sarcastic; your friends and family might know this and also know that you're not trying to be mean, you're just trying to be funny. Group members who don't know you that well ...don't know you that well. They won't know you're just being funny and maybe they're a bit more sensitive than anyone you know.
Think about dialling back any aspects of your behaviour that might rub other folk up the wrong way (remember the Golden Rule!) At the same time, if you bristle because of what someone in the group said or how they acted, cut them a little slack; it might be just how they are as opposed to any deliberate attempt to antagonise you.
Getting to know each other better can help break the ice and bond the group
Some people just won't get along; it's just the nature of things,
It's important to focus on the group and the work and not on people's personalities. You should try to stay emotionally detached; concentrate on the work. You can try a clear the air meeting to see if you can get along better.
If that doesn't work then you still have the common ground of trying to do a good job and getting a good mark, so you have that to focus on. You don't have to be best buddies. you don't have to particularly like each other, but you have a common goal which is doing the best you can for the group
College work can be stressful. Group work can be stressful because some of the work will be out of your hands - you're relying on others to do their part.
Elsewhere on this site there is a Health and Wellbeing section with a page on coping with stress and another page with useful links and resources. Have a look there to find something that might be useful for you. To reduce stress over deadlines, create a workplan and a schedule. Break the work down into smaller sections and have completion dates (don't call them deadlines) for them. If you can tick off things that have been done and see progress towards completion, it should reassure you that you'll finish in time.
The group should also be able to provide support and reassurance. Effective groups can help group members cope with difficulties that arise.
Groups often have a dominant member who'll try to take charge. You can have a group facilitator or leader - that's ok - their role is to keep things moving, not to unilaterally decide what you're going to do or monopolise speaking time. It's a bad idea to sit back and let the loudest or chattiest take control. Firstly, you're shirking your responsibility to the group because secondly there's no correlation between talking the most or the loudest and having the best ideas. The most productive - and most effective groups - are those in which everyone is contributing and drawing on their knowledge and experience.
The meeting chair should remind the group that everyone’s input matters and make space for other group members to provide their input.
If you split up the work, so that everybody is doing something (as you should!), the chair can also ask for progress updates on tasks from individual group members.
Outside of meetings, you can also politely indicate to the dominating team member that they are taking more of their fair share of time in meetings. Refer them to the group agreement that you all signed (this should include agreement to let everyone have their say in meetings)
Some group members may say or do nothing. This can be quite frustrating. Group members may be quiet for several reasons including confidence, other team members dominating, because they don’t feel that they have anything to contribute, or they have opinions that are counter to the majority's and don't want to rock the boat
Give silent members the chance to speak by asking them for their ideas and giving them the opportunity to discuss their specified tasks. Instead of asking if group members agree on something, ask if anyone disagrees. This gives people the chance to voice their concerns rather than simply going along with things.
With regard to inactive or uncooperative group members, remember you simply have no idea what's happening in their life, so don't go in all guns blazing. Address the problem directly and ask the group member what's going on. Like with silent members, it might be a confidence issue. They could be struggling in general, have personal difficulties outside of the group or maybe just need some assistance from other team members. It's best to try to sort this out within the group with the preferred solution helping the inactive group member to complete their task. If you have access to an academic advisor, it might be worth talking to them. Don’t complete their work for them; if you do that, where's their motivation for completing future work? Going to your tutor is a bit of nuclear option and really is a last resort if sorting it out within the group fails.
Again, it's strongly recommended that you draft one of these before commencing group working. By having one you can reduce the chance of conflicts arising.
Image: Don't make me tap the sign. Generated at ImgFlip Meme Generator
