Part 10: Group projects and all the drama that comes with them.
I may be a little bit inexperienced with this one since most of my experience has led me into situations when I'm left on my own to work on things, but I'll try my best to think back at the times when I had to work with a group. There are a few things that come up in my mind that might explain the frustrations of dealing in a group project.
- There's often that one person who wants to take over. You know what I mean. It's that super competitive go getter who naturally jumps at the opportunity to get things done, and none of the other team members complain, because they don't want to be in charge. The danger of this is that the group effort is out of balance, and there's also a danger that this person could thinks things should be done a certain way, thus making it more difficult for the whole group to contribute ideas. That doesn't allow room for those of us who see alternative ways that could be equally as productive.
- Everyone's talking over each other. I know this is how many people work. They throw their ideas out there verbally, and it feels like standing in the middle of a dodgeball game and trying to focus on multiple balls coming at you at once (heaven forbid one hits your head). Constant talking in general can be overwhelming. This may apply more to lesser structured group meetings, because some of the more structured meetings people are given turns to speak, but those also have their own complications. For example, if they ask for questions and ideas or ask me in particular to say something, and I haven't had time to process what was said, there's not a lot I can say at the moment. There have been times when I wanted to say something and spoke out, but the response I got wasn't encouraging.
- Difficulty presenting ideas. I've had many instances when I didn't like what it seemed like everyone was agreeing with. There were times when I had ideas, tried to voice them in my own fumbling way, but they weren't taken seriously. Most people either made a lukewarm comment and then moved on without ever referring to it again, or didn't give any signal they heard it in the first place. I'm often left after that not wanting to talk again, because what was the use of sharing my ideas if no one cared? Even in times when I shared an idea they liked, there was always some sort of twist or change that didn't improve it at all.
I'm sure there's more to it than that, but here it is. I always seem to be pushed aside in groups, and given projects that no one else wants to handle (but that works, because often I enjoy those things more). I think probably the worst part about group projects is the lack of freedom it gives for thinking and allowing ideas to generate. Some people might be surprised to hear me say that, because they think discussing things openly is open free thinking, but for some of us our minds don't work properly when (referring again to the dodgeball metaphor) multiple balls are bombarding us. Our ideas generate when our minds are cleared from noise, movement, and any other surrounding chaos. Quiet moments are our friends.
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| Peace rose, because peace is my thing. 😊 |
