Working with Others

As children, we are taught to share and work with others, and all throughout school, we are assigned to project groups, work teams, etc. Though the goal or purpose of the group might change, these teams still exist in the work place.  The ability to work with others in a one-on-one, small group, and large group setting is highly marketable and difficult to come by in this day and age. Often times, we don't have a choice when it comes to who we have to work with so being flexible and accommodating is very important. It is necessary to put your differences, disagreements, and personal agendas aside for the betterment of the group, project, and business as a whole. Though this can be challenging, the ability to separate personal issues from work related tasks is what makes a good businessperson into a great team player.  

 

An important piece of the puzzle when it comes to working with others is establishing roles.  Sometimes, our project groups lack a chain of command, so it is necessary to determine group member roles and expectations.  In addition, considering Myers-Briggs type indicators is often beneficial and way to get to know those you are working with. Being aware of their natural tendencies can head off a great deal of the complications that you are sure to face as a team.  Similarly, searching for and considering a variety of perspectives will result in a well-rounded, fully developed team. 

 

Reviewing Tuckman's Stages of Group Development and how those stages look for your team can be both helpful and eye opening.  Recognizing that the challenges you and your peers are facing is normal can ease the frustration and get you out of the storming face quicker.  

 

Working with others will always be a part of life.  Though it isn't always ideal and more often than not we are forced to work with people we dislike, this opportunity is a chance to grow and develop.  There is always something to gain from meeting new people and hearing different perspectives.  And, as with everything, the more involved you are, the more you will ultimately benefit.

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As a Marketing student at Texas A&M, many of my classes are group project based, a reality that I have come to truly love. Thefall semester of my junior year was particularly project heavy consisting of 4 total semester long projects! Though I truly enjoyed working on all of them and lucked out when it came to my group members, my personal favorite project took place in my Advertising and Creative Marketing course (MKTG 347). For 10 weeks, my group and I studied Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill- a restaurant that I never dreamt I would come to "love". Nicole, Breagan, Lauren and I conducted extensive research and developed an entire media campaign for the struggling casual dining establishment. At the end of the semester, we had the opportunity to share our findings and ideas with the rest of the class. The 10 weeks I spent working with these fabulous ladies were truly fun and exciting. Each week, we had a new deliverable due, meaning we were consistently in communication with one another as the assignments seemed to never end. Through this, we learned a great deal about one another in terms of our schedules, strengths/weaknesses, writing styles, etc. From the beginning, we established roles for ourselves to help hold us accountable and provide some structure. I believe this strategic decision is largely responsible for our overall success. After having completed this project, I now know how to better accommodate for and work with individuals who have completely different schedules than I do, I am more comfortable with remote collaboration, feel that I can better understand and respond to my peers, and delegate responsibilities that I am unable to handle. 

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Below you can find a copy of our final presentation to learn a little more!