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3 tips for successful group work

AuthorDarcy Nathan, editor
Posted on

Group projects are a great chance to collaborate, but without proper organisation, they can become frustrating and make you wish you'd worked alone. The good news is that this can be avoided with clear communication

Group projects are more than just academic exercises - they're opportunities to build life skills and develop qualities employers look for in almost every career, including:

Here are three steps to help your team work together effectively.

Set clear goals and roles from the start

Strong teamwork begins with clarity. Your first meeting sets the tone for the whole project, so it's a good idea to use it to define what success looks like. This could mean:

Assigning roles early based on each person's strengths and interests is also essential. For example, if someone excels at research, let them lead the evidence-gathering, but make sure that all responsibilities work towards a shared goal, and avoid overlapping tasks.

Sophie Mattingely, a psychology student from Newcastle University, explains her approach 'we all express our interest in what tasks we would like to complete. From there, we assign different roles and write them on a shared word document to ensure we stick to the responsibilities.'

Group work can become complicated when characters clash, so it's important to encourage participation and create an environment where everyone feels valued. While some people naturally speak up, others may initially find it difficult to share their ideas.

Finally, discuss the deadline. Don't just set the final due date; create a timeline with milestones and break the project into smaller tasks so everyone understands the scope. For example:

  • research completed by week one
  • draft ready by week two
  • final project done by week three.

These checkpoints help track progress and prevent last-minute panic. They also make it easier to hold each other accountable and revisit decisions if circumstances change.

Communicate regularly

Even the best-planned project can fail without consistent communication - successful group work depends on everyone staying informed.

To maintain clear communication, choose a way to connect with your team and commit to it. Sophie says that her groups often use WhatsApp or Snapchat chats, but other options include:

  • email
  • Microsoft Teams
  • your virtual learning platform.

Avoid spreading information across too many platforms, as this can cause confusion. Remember, silence is often misinterpreted as disengagement, so even a quick 'got it' in response to an update helps keep the project on track.

Scheduling regular check-ins is also a smart move - short, frequent meetings keep everyone aligned.

Even a 15-minute catch-up can be enough to:

  • ask questions
  • share progress
  • resolve any issues early.

Keep discussions focused on the task and encourage quieter members to share their ideas. The most successful groups take advantage of everyone's strengths, not just the loudest voices. If you're struggling to contribute in a group setting, take a look at our tips on beating imposter syndrome.

Disagreements are inevitable, but they shouldn't become personal. If you're struggling with part of a task, let the group know as early as possible and try to suggest a solution to the problem.

When giving feedback, focus on being constructive. For example, instead of saying, 'You didn't do enough,' try, 'This section needs more evidence.'

If a teammate isn't contributing, Sophie suggests 'ask if they need help without sounding condescending. At the same time, avoid doing their work for them, as that's unfair to you.'

Discover our 5 tips to manage student stress.

Review and adapt as you go

With many people involved, group assignments rarely go exactly as planned - and that's completely normal. The most successful teams treat their work as an evolving process, adjusting deadlines and responsibilities when needed.

Use your milestones to regularly assess progress - whether you're ahead, on track, or behind schedule. This is also a good chance to rebalance the workload - if someone has more free time or a lighter role, redistribute tasks to prevent burnout elsewhere.

Project management and collaboration tools can make this easier, such as:

  • Creately - an infinite whiteboard with templates for visualising ideas.
  • Miro - an online collaborative board for defining goals and priorities.
  • Trello - a card-and-board system for tracking workflow and progress.
  • Padlet - a shared space where members can post and group ideas.

Successful group work isn't about having a perfect plan from the start. It's about building trust, keeping communication open, and adapting together to reach your shared goal. Master these habits, and you'll be ready for teamwork in any setting - from the classroom to the workplace and beyond.

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