Make group projects go smoother with these tips

Tip #1: Get organized

Group projects are a lot more complicated than individual assignments. You need to be highly structured to function well together. Therefore, it’s best to get organized in your first group meeting.

Your group should:

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• Sketch out project sections. Make a list of all project tasks. Organize them into equal shares, so no one has to do more work than anyone else. It may make sense to put them in related categories. For example, there might be research, writing, creative, and presenting tasks.
• Delegate roles. Role assignment increases material understanding and team satisfaction, according to multiple studies. Choose duties according to strengths. One person may love research. Another person may want to head the creative aspects. Ensure everyone has a chance to choose a role or task that fits them.
• Set deadlines. Your group project probably has a final due date. Create multiple deadlines before that primary due date. Ensure you set individual target dates, too. Group members have to finish their tasks on time, so you can combine them before the final deadline.
• Schedule check-ins. Your group may want to check in-between deadlines. Check-ins can be in person or over video calls. Schedule these ahead of time using an online calendar like Outlook Calendar, so everyone is aware of meetings ahead of time.

Each group member will know exactly what they need to do once you’ve finished getting organized.

Tip #2: Communicate clearly

Your team will not be able to produce a cohesive project without communicating clearly. Every team member must express their expectations and needs to the group.

You can improve group communications by:

• Asking questions. Posing questions to the group is an excellent way to show you are willing to take advice. Plus, group members might offer exciting ideas that you couldn’t have thought of yourself.
• Listening. Listen when team members say they are struggling, need help, or don’t like something. Addressing problems right away ensures that they don’t get worse. An untended issue can become a project’s downfall.
• Chatting often. Don’t limit your conversations to scheduled meetings. For example, share fun facts you learn. These can help other team members. Fun, brief chats through messaging systems can also improve team relations.

Choose one communication channel, so all of your chats, notes, and calls are in one place. A tool like Microsoft Teams, for example, rolls chats, video calls, and file-sharing into a single hub for group projects.

Tip #3: Work together in real-time

Your team will have to bring individual tasks together at some point. You’ll inevitably need to work together on the same file, ensuring the overall project sounds cohesive.

A cloud storage system will help you when the project reaches this point. Microsoft OneDrive, for example, allows teams to:

• Quickly share files
• Access a single, master copy
• See team members update the file in real-time
• Restore past drafts of the file

You can save a lot of time on group projects with these capabilities. Your team can compile the project remotely, saving commute time. You can all work on the file at the same time, instead of sending documents from person to person. You can even restore accidentally deleted drafts, saving time it would take to reconstruct the files.

Tip #4: Stay accountable

Group projects can be challenging if people don’t complete their tasks. Deadlines and frequent check-ins can help people turn in assignments on time. You may also consider talking about the importance of being accountable from the get-go.

Encourage team members to follow up with their tasks by:

• Setting group reminders on your shared calendar
• Using your chat channel to check on progress
• Taking responsibility for your own mistakes
• Asking team members to request help when they need it

You may even want to choose a project manager at the start of your group projects. This person can remind team members about upcoming due dates. Additionally, this lead can also adjust the schedule if something goes wrong.

Tip #5: Compromise

Group projects must be cohesive at the end of the day. Subsequently, it needs to look like only one person completed them. You will only be able to achieve this with compromise.

Vote on each big decision to ensure that most of the group is happy with it. No one will feel as though they have to bear the weight of a decision, either. Voting may come in handy when you:

• Choose project themes
• Decide on a tone
• Select an artistic direction

Making decisions by votes is a great way to ensure your group gets along. And a happy group will help your group project go smoother.