1st
I guess I’ll have to do it for you.
In my earlier college days I dreaded group projects for one reason—unequal workloads.
Whether it was due to some slacker in the group who just put off doing the work because he or she figured they rest of us would cover, or whether it was some overbearing, self-appointed group leader who took the whole responsibility of the project to his or her self, it never seemed equal.
One experience that sticks out in my memory is a project I did on Gardner’s multiple intelligences for my psychology class.
There were three of us. We began by dividing up research, interviews, and design to each specific person in the group. I began by doing the interviews in my own creative approach, which was my task for the group. But after a week, I realized the research wasn’t coming in and the project couldn’t be put together without some way to make the interviews reflective of different types of intelligences. I pushed and pushed and when I realized the project wasn’t coming out either, I began designing the presentation as well. Eventually, the day before the presentation of our project, one of the group members helped me finish up the project. I was very grateful.
We presented the project and got an A. I expected to get an A because I knew all the work was quality. But what really peeved me, is that the third member of the group didn’t say one word during the presentation and didn’t hand in any evidence that he did anything. It was obvious to everyone that he did very little work (in actuality, none) but my teacher thought we did so well, she gave him an A anyway.
He just thought it was funny.
It almost made me wish we had all failed, just so he would get the grade he deserved.
So when it comes down to it, equal distribution of the workload is probably the most important thing when it comes to keeping a team together.
I’d rather you contribute something, even if you think I could do it better. So, if I don’t think you’re doing enough work, I’ll be sure to let you know.
I’d rather I contribute as well, even if you could do it better. So if you don’t think I am doing enough work, please tell me.
