Tips for the first meeting
✔️ Make a positive start: Smile, ask questions, offer suggestions, make notes, talk predominantly about your group project
✔️ Introduce each other: Some people might not know each other
✔️ Take time: Don’t rush into the first meeting, first impressions are important
✔️ Identify the task: Make sure everyone understands the assignment and what is needed to successfully complete the group work i.e., read the assignment instructions together
✔️Agree on rules: Everyone should be clear on what to expect, how to contribute and what happens if he/she does not participate appropriately
✔️ Identify areas of expertise: Who is good in what? Look up Belbin’s Team Role Inventories to help you with that process
✔️ Identify common practice: Who will be taking notes, who are you going to decide on things?
✔️ Make a plan: In one of the earlier meetings agree on a schedule e.g., when is what finished by whom?
✔️ Have a set agenda: Agree at the beginning of the meeting what issues need to be addressed
✔️ Be organised: Leave the meeting knowing what each of the group members has to do
✔️ Evaluate: Start off the meeting with a summary of what has been achieved so far
✔️ Be democratic: Let all people have a say and be polite to each other
✔️ Keep records: Keep clear records of meetings and attendance and make sure there is a record of who has done what
Things to consider
✔️ Before you submit or give the presentation make sure
you’ve met all the demands set out by your lecturer or school
✔️ In case you are asked to work on a written assignment be aware that in should be a coherent piece of work i.e., allocate who will proofread, who edits the paper, how are you referencing, what kind of abbreviations etc. you will use
✔️ Email communication can be a challenge. Be aware of
your tone of voice as written words can often sound harsher than intended
Group work will be successful if you…
✔️ Have clear objectives, agreed goals and allocated roles
✔️ Reach agreements at most meetings
✔️ Complete tasks as agreed
✔️ Are all participating
✔️ Are listening to each other
✔️ Generate an open and trusting atmosphere
✔️ Allow opinions to be questioned
✔️ Respect each other
✔️ Use your time effectively
✔️ Have a systematic approach to discussion
✔️ Regularly review the process
✔️ Share information
✔️ Can keep up a good communication
Group work will go wrong if you…
✔️ Are wasting time
✔️ Are not taking the task serious
✔️ Have no clearly articulated roles and tasks
✔️ Have a weak leadership
✔️ Lack planning
✔️ Have no clear agendas
✔️ Lack support
✔️ Isolate certain group members
✔️ Are going into too much procedural detail
✔️ Shot down ideas of each other
✔️ Lack innovation and communication
Learn more about Teamwork and other vital personal attributes to develop at university