Embrace the Group Project
by Meghan M. Thiel, LMSW
The group project was the bane of my existence during graduate school, and I know I was not alone in that feeling. Group projects sparked immediate anxiety and often led to frustration among my classmates. Who will be in my group? How are we going to split this assignment up?
The group project teaches much more than whatever the assignment is. Unfortunately, most of us don’t spend much time exploring what these group projects can teach us, because we’re just trying to get through it. Like it or not, group projects will continue to be a part of your work as a social worker, whether you are working in leadership, health care, private practice, or a community agency.
Now five years out of my MSW program and still working in groups and on teams, I have come up with five lessons you can take away from those group projects.
How To Work Collaboratively
Even if you have chosen your team members, chances are that you’re working with someone whose working, writing, and processing styles differ from yours. Maybe they even value the project differently. Navigating those differences—putting them aside or working through them to complete the task—can be downright frustrating. But the ability to recognize and utilize the unique skillset that your group member brings to the table is important. Why? If you someday find yourself in a management or project lead role, you’ll choose your team based on skills that complement each other and put those skills to the best, most efficient use.
When To Work Together and When To Split Up the Work
Splitting up the work to finish a project can seem daunting, but working on every piece all together requires lots of time and patience. Though you may have protected time in school to work together, or at least to make a plan, you may not have that same luxury as a professional. So you’ll need to decide which way of working is most efficient and productive. You might choose to split up work based on experience, interest, or discipline, but take note that time spent working together might aid in learning something new or networking with someone different.
How To Give Productive, Constructive Feedback
Giving feedback that’s less than favorable is a skill that takes lots and lots of practice. It’s easy to provide feedback that is positive and uplifting, but how do you tell someone that they have somehow missed the mark and need to revise their work or improve upon a skill? Communication is key when working in a group. Learning to provide clear, kind, and specific feedback can save a lot of frustration. In the working world, you may be asked to provide feedback about your colleagues’ performance or to mentor a student, and in doing so, you’ll need to be direct while maintaining your working relationship.
When To Take the Lead and When To Follow the Leader
Chances are, you’ve sat in that first group meeting in silence after the most dreaded question: “Who wants to be in charge?” In school, you and your group members might have similar knowledge and experience, so it can be hard to decide who takes the lead. When working on a group project for your employer, though, this is an opportunity to both show what you know and to learn from those with more experience. Evaluating the knowledge and experience of the group can help you decide who should take the lead for the various parts of your project. There may be times when you have the most experience in a certain area and will take the lead, but be open to others stepping up who may have different experience and can teach you something new.
How To Show Your Strengths as an individual and as a Group Member
You’re working toward a grade when you’re in school. The stakes are different when you’re an employee. A group project with your co-workers can highlight both your individual strengths and your talent as a team member. Group projects, committees, and teamwork are opportunities to illustrate your ability to communicate effectively, demonstrate your unique knowledge, and share your interests for future committees or projects. Use each of these group interactions as a chance to show your peers and leadership that you not only have the individual skills to succeed in your role, but that you also are committed to your employer’s mission.
Meghan M. Thiel, LMSW, is a clinical social worker at the University of Michigan Health System Adult Palliative Care Program. She completed her MSW with a Specialist in Aging Certificate at the University of Michigan in 2013. She also participates in community bereavement programs, facilitating support groups for children who have experienced a death.