subject: Group Work The Answer To Getting Those Key Skills At Work? [print this page] Group Work The Answer To Getting Those Key Skills At Work?
You may think of group work as being something you did in primary in secondary school, often with people you didn't get on with. But these days a professional career often requires you to work in groups on a project. The reasoning companies use this method is because it can help to expand your skills and knowledge, as well as enables you to complete the project with increased efficiently and the results often incur a more dynamic project. Too many cooks don't always spoil the broth, you know.
Group work based projects will mean you have to work with others. Whether your best friends in the office or have not spoken before, you have to be able to effectively communicate and discuss issues. Improving communication skills will not only help the group dynamics work but will demonstrate to your boss, you're a good team player and maybe deserve that promotion.
But with any groups there are bound to be problems? So how do you overcome your personal differences in order to work together, whether it's on a project or studying together as a group for a certification?
First of all try t to build a group relationship where everyone is on a level footing. This could be by identifying each other's knowledge and strengths and using them to your advantage as a group. As always, there may be a dominant personality, however, if you take a person-centre approach where everyone has something to contribute (Carl Jungs theories), the power balance should be more equal.
It's important to get to know who you are working with. All make sure your introduce yourselves and ask each other questions, it will make the atmosphere more relaxed and social. Group work in a work atmosphere can often make people ill at ease, thus a friendlier atmosphere may encourage people to feel comfortable, which often helps ideas come out as well as improves the learning process. But you still need to take the whole process seriously, so no larking about or you may get into trouble with your manager!
When having a group discussion, make sure everyone has their say. There is always someone who won't stop chattering and a quiet one, which can often make it hard for everyone to be heard. Encourage everyone to speak freely or invent other ways to work if someone feels too nervous speaking out loud.
Working in a group is never easy to begin with, but can achieve quite a lot once you all can cooperate and work together. Whether you're working in a group for a project or training for a certification together, it's vital you communicate effectively, in order to achieve your results.
If you are interested in computer based training to gain skills or achieve certification, have a look at the training from learn key at www.cvision.co.uk
