Tips for Group Work: Collaborating and Succeeding as a Team

By Brandon Swenson December 9, 2020

We often think of our biggest goals—including educational and career ones—as solo pursuits. But the truth is that we don’t often find success on our own. From group projects in class to working with a team on the job to leveraging networks to advance our careers, working in group settings is a big part of our lives.

So, how do we learn to collaborate? Here are some of our favorite tips for working well with others!

Prioritize Communication

It’s probably no surprise that our very first tip is clear communication. Without keeping the lines of communication open, it’s going to be tough to take the rest of these recommendations into consideration and to create success as a group.

Establish how you want to communicate—and how often—and be prepared to follow through. Make sure that everyone is on the same page and that the expectations are clear. If a text thread works best for everyone, don’t suddenly send an email instead. If you’re responsible for checking in weekly, don’t miss that checkpoint (and don’t send daily updates instead). Use clear and respectful language. Always be honest and professional.

Mind the Time

Time management is a critical skill for any big project, but especially when you’re working with and depending on other people. Everyone has their own schedules and other commitments, so it’s important to build in more than enough time to communicate and collaborate.

Use your end-of-project deadline and work backward to create reasonable milestones and interim due dates. And then make it a priority to honor them. Delays and hiccups are inevitable, but too many of them can quickly derail a project. Don’t forget to consider everyone’s time zones and typical availability.

Take a Turn

It can be tempting, in group settings, to sit back and let someone else lead—or to let someone else do the things that everyone else is trying to avoid. It’s important to take turns and to volunteer to step up, even if you don’t feel comfortable (or enthusiastic). It shows your commitment to the work and can even be a chance to learn something new.

If the group struggles to find someone willing to take notes at each meeting, be the one to volunteer at the next one. If no one wants to be the one to present your work, raise your hand. Doing the hard stuff is often a fantastic learning experience, and you’ll keep the group moving forward instead of stalling out when everyone is suddenly very busy staring at their shoelaces.

Pay Attention to Others

Group work is an opportunity to learn—not just through the project or task at hand, but from your teammates. We all fall into rhythms and patterns in our own work, and seeing how someone else tackles the assignment can open our eyes to new ways of doing things.

This is also where the magic of collaboration can show up: Playing off each other’s ideas and recognizing each other’s strengths is sure to lead to a better end result. Be ready to take a step back when it’s someone else’s time to shine, and don’t be afraid of the spotlight when it’s your turn.

Address Conflicts

Disagreements are common when you have two or more people working together, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. The key is addressing conflict calmly and quickly. Remember that everyone has their own personality, communication style, and opinions about the project. It is not often that conflict happens because someone is being malicious or intentionally difficult.

At the end of the day, everyone has the same goal: a successful project and the smoothest collaboration possible. Remember what you’re working toward and that burning bridges is almost never a good idea. Avoid calling an individual out in the middle of the group, using heated or unprofessional language, or getting caught up in the drama of a conflict. Instead, be clear and calm about your feelings and your expectations; be prepared to offer a solution to help move things forward again.

Get Feedback

Group settings are also a chance to get feedback from others into how they see your work. When we’re working on our own, whether in school or in the workplace, we’re often judged solely by the finished project. When working with a group, however, other people can see the journey you take to get there.

Ask for feedback from your teammates on how you’ve contributed to the group and collaborated with others. Be open to receiving both praise and constructive criticism—and using it to improve your own work. Whether you’re preparing for a group project with fellow online students or are getting ready to dive into a collaboration on the job, being able to work on a team is an important skill to have.

Looking for more help in your classes or in your career planning? Check out our student support services or reach out to Grantham’s Career Services team!