Blog #3
I think we all experienced at least once going into a group and no one wants to talk either it's because they don't want to be here , shy , uncomfortable, or simply just lost. During group projects i'm usually the type of person who likes to get things done, so I talk for people if I see them shy or need to start up topics or simple just do the work for them. Something from the reading that stood out to me was "fairly simple misunderstanding, and miscommunication can impair the productivity of a team" I believe thats the number one reason group fail to do their tasks or get anyone in team experiences.
My experience I was in a group with 4 people who refused to talk and if I would ask them questions they would respond with I don't know or "uhh yea." this experience was terrible because everyone was to shy to talk to each other and just ignored everything we were supposed to do. This goes with the miscommunication or misunderstanding the body language of everyone to try and ease up the group so we can feel friendly and comfortable to participate in the team experience.
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/leadership/group-facilitation/group-discussions/main
This article summarizes good discussions how to start them and how to be in them. The article gives pointers on how to be a good leader / lead the group, I know not everyone likes to be in charge, but it's good to know leadership because if your shy or don't want to talk you will know how to ask questions, be comfortable to talk , and listen carefully. It gives pointers such as let everyone in the group speak, listen carefully, group can easily express feelings and new ideas and discussion isn't dominated by just one person.
Yes!! It's frustrating when you're getting nothing in return despite your efforts. I love how you address having communication and that communicating isn't directly associated with leading. You can communicate and not have to be a defined leader. That's important to understand because I think that scares people away from talking sometimes. Creating a safe environment to talk is good!! This is a good view.
ReplyDeleteHello Malak! I liked the point you brought up that was in our course reading. Almost every group experience that has been negative for me has been because of a misunderstanding or miscommunication. When everyone is not on the same page, it can be hard to complete a task. It was interesting to read about your group experience and how comfortability can be especially important for a group to be successful. Being comfortable in a group can allow everyone to feel that they can freely share their thoughts, be open to new ideas, and have difficult discussions. Connecting outside of working on a project can be helpful to get to know your group members and feel more comfortable with them. I like the article shared in your blog because it describes how a person can lead a group discussion and help others feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.
ReplyDeleteHi Malak,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to thank you for being the person who speaks up for the shyer and reserved members in a group (because that's usually me). Taking on that leadership role, no matter how daunting it is, is commendable, especially in a setting where no one knows each other and we're all hoping for a good grade. I also understand your frustration when other group members don't participate in the facilitation of discussions or idea exchanges. I find that to be a very common experience that a lot of us have endured in group settings before. I like the graphic you shared because it provides a nice visualization of how to start discussions and get others engaged as well. Good job!