Agree on some rules

If you can, agree on some basic rules when you first meet up. This can help set expectations for the group work.

The rules should reflect the needs and wishes of the whole group and may include things like:

• who is the group leader and any expectations of this role

• who will document what is discussed and agreed in meetings

• how the group will communicate

• where will meetings take place (face-to-face or online, and what location or platform)

• if decisions should be made by a majority vote or does everyone need to agree

• what roles do each members of the group need to take

Communicate effectively

This can be an extension of the rules or the first thing for the group leader to outline. Establishing the practical components of communication, and the behavioural elements can lay a solid foundation for the group to work from.

Practical examples include:

• Create an agenda and send it out before the meeting

• Ensure there is an opportunity for everyone to contribute

• Ensure any tasks that are agreed on are assigned to group members with deadlines

• Summarise the agreed tasks at the end of each meeting and ensure group members are clear on what they need to do

Behavioural examples include:

• Contribute, don't criticise

• Everyone should feel valued for contributing their ideas, even if the group decides not to use them

• Everyone should wait their turn to speak and try to avoid speaking over others

• Turn up to meetings on time, or communicate with the group if you can’t attend

Keep the group together

Often groups break down because members form smaller subgroups or pairs and agree or action things without consulting with the other group members.

It is important to try and stop this from happening by agreeing on rules and communication expectations, but, if these are ignored, there are other methods to try and resolve the situation:

• Send a message explaining that to get the best work done everyone needs to be involved and suggest that everyone meets up

• Ask everyone to update the group on what they have done or agreed to do

• Make it clear that the aim is to consolidate everyone’s efforts rather than criticise each other

• Ask if there is a better way to meet or communicate that involves everyone

• Make a plan for what happens next and ask everyone to agree to it

Manage group members

In any group work, there may be students who fail to complete their tasks and this can be a major source of stress when working on a group project.

One option is to take this issue to your teacher or tutor. They may be able to mediate, change group allocations, or consider this when assigning marks to individuals.

However, your teacher or tutor may say that managing the group dynamic is part of what you are learning, and leave it to the group to try and resolve.

In this case, it can be useful to suggest the work of the group is documented and submitted with the final group project to ensure that everyone contributes fairly. Record who attended the meetings (differentiating between those who communicated with the group, and those who just didn’t turn up), who was assigned to each task and whether it was completed or had to be reassigned.