You
will spend much of your time collaborating and communicating with
others in a small group format. Here are some guidelines for you
to follow when working in a group to assure that your interactions
are successful.
Personal
Guidelines:
Being
a valuable group member means you must assume personal responsibility
for the success of the group.
be
willing to communicate and share your ideas, information, and
perspectives within the group.
Treat
your fellow members with respect and consideration; never disconfirm,
belittle, or ridicule others.
Use
your best critical thinking skills when evaluating information,
ideas, and proposals.
Evaluate
information in a thorough and unbiased way.
Demonstrate
a committment to the group; complete assignments for the group
and support group decisions.
Communication
Guidelines:
Making
group communication productive is the responsibility of all group
members.
Perfect
understanding among group members in nearly impossible; we need
only communicate well enough to coordinate our behavior toward
a common goal.
Disagreement
and conflict are not necessarily signs of a breakdown in communication;
many conflicts result from group members having different values,
goals, beliefs, or personal objectives.
Conflict
is not always a bad thing; conflict can be beneficial if it is
expressed and managed properly. Conflict can increase member involvement
and group cohesiveness.
