A common joke among teenagers on multiple social media platforms is to poke fun at the frustration of many students during group projects. There are some people who rejoice at the opportunity to work with close friends or get carried to an A by a smarter partner, and some people who dread the idea of having to collaborate with others. Personally, I dislike working in a group because it is frequently detrimental to productivity.

A main risk of group work is unequal participation. It is quite possible that while in a group some partners might not do that much work, while others work hard. When in a group, particularly one with large numbers of people, it can be very easy for a person to avoid work and leave it for others to complete. It may take time for other group members to realize someone is slacking off, and even more time to remove the slacker from the group or make them work again. Inequality of labor may also lead to conflicts within the group; some members are acknowledged for work they barely assisted in, while others strived hard to be recognized. In such a scenario, resentment seems inevitable.

Another risk is intrinsic conflict. When people work together, ideological disagreement is sure to arise between them. Each person may have their own ideas and opinions that conflict with other people’s suggestions. This conflict may temporarily halt the flow of work as the issue is resolved. While there is always value in discourse, due to the group mindset that gets adopted during group projects, it would most likely be best to partner with those with similar mindsets to yours to ensure maximum productivity.

In a group, there is no place for individualistic thinking. In order for the work to be completed successfully, ideas and suggestions put forward by all members of the group have to be taken into consideration. Because the ideas of all members of the group have to be considered, group collaboration takes up a lot of time and energy.

Conversely, group work does not always lead to increased creativity, as it can sometimes leads to a loss of creativity. Imagination can be stunted by group thinking if no one expresses their own ideas and just goes along with the opinion of the group. Furthermore, creativity and originality can be dulled by compromise. A group member may have a very unique idea, but has to alter it to make it more appealing to a larger audience. Some members have too much influence over the others. Strong personalities make it challenging for others to contribute feedback and damage the cohesiveness of the team.

How can one improve their experiences working in a group? People tend to work better in a group when they are comfortable with each other. It is also best to put people with similar working styles and work schedules on the same team. Once assembled in a group, strict delegation of duties can clarify responsibilities and prevent confusion or resentment between members.

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