The ability to work in groups is a crucial skill for all people who aim to participate in a project or pursue a career. According to Hamilton et al. (2019b), there are four common characteristics of a group: a small number of participants, face-to-face interaction of the members, a common goal, and multiple gatherings. Furthermore, features of successful teams include cohesiveness, diversity, groupthink, adherence to set rules and norms, and the ability to reach a consensus (Hamilton et al., 2019a). As can be seen, collaboration is critical for efficient teamwork.
One positive example I experienced working with a group was increased productivity compared to individual projects. We worked on a social work project and met all the goals one week before the deadline. There are several skills I used to contribute to this positive experience. In particular, I used my critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to discuss the issue and find efficient ways to address it. Furthermore, I applied planning and time-management skills to ensure that we had a clear idea of the project’s tasks and limitations. When working with a group, it is vital to establish main roles, criteria, and deadlines for the project to be productive (Hamilton et al., 2019b). Overall, my communication and leadership skills helped me to challenge myself and complete complex tasks that seemed impossible without the team’s support and motivation.
At the same time, I had an adverse experience working with another group when its members were not motivated and interested in completing the project, which resulted in poor performance. Overall, one step to motivating people who work together is to set clear goals. According to Hamilton et al. (2019a), lack of motivation and incompatible goals are common reasons for project failure. Therefore, addressing this issue by clarifying the objectives can help team members feel more organized and interested in completing work.
References
Hamilton, C., Creel, B., & Kroll, T. (2019a). Becoming effective group members and leaders. In C. Hamilton, B. Creel & T. Kroll. (Eds.), Communicating for success (2nd ed., pp. 2-29). Taylor and Francis.
Hamilton, C., Creel, B., & Kroll, T. (2019b). Communicating in problem-solving groups. In C. Hamilton, B. Creel & T. Kroll. (Eds.), Communicating for success (2nd ed., pp. 2-32). Taylor and Francis.