I’ve recently dealt with a few group project settings where my team members are difficult to work with. Whether it be lack of responsiveness, heavy procrastination, poor quality work, etc., it could be really draining being in this situation. Here are 3 tips on how to manage this situation:
- Be a leader (but don’t micromanage). In this setting, someone needs to step up and take charge, don’t be afraid to be that person. You might think people will just look at you funny or annoyed, but in reality someone needs to step up and they’ll thank you at some point.
- Create action-oriented meeting agendas. Describe different items that need to be discussed in meetings, who’s in charge of what, and try to estimate the time needed on each item to make things as productive as possible. But more importantly, include a section to delegate tasks at the end and come up with goals for the following working period. Check in with those at each meeting.
- Take care of YOURSELF!! It is sooooo easy to feel the pressure of the entire project on yourself, but realize that this project is not your entire life and you need to set boundaries. Of course you want to do well on the project, but the answer to that isn’t forcing yourself to do everything by yourself. If this means talking with your professor about how to better the situation, do it. And do it in a way that you’re not complaining/snitching, but in a way that shows you care about the project and want advice on how to deal with the situation. It’s not worth your mental health to fully drain yourself from a project.
