HOW TO MAKE YOUR GROUP WORK

As the group solves a problem or comes to a conclusion, every person needs to know how each other member thinks and feels. In order to accomplish this, it’s important to follow some basic rules.

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Be Prepared

Keep up with your assignments. Your group relies on each member’s opinions and interpretations.

Speak When It’s Your Turn

If you’re nervous about speaking, take a deep breath. Remind yourself you’re with students who are very similar to you—and who are probably as nervous as you are. The more you speak, the less nervous you’ll be. Go back to Chapter 13, “Getting the Most from Class Participation,” for tips on overcoming stage fright when you speak in your group.

Keep Within the Time Limit

Stay within your time limit, if one is assigned. If not, it’s simply good man- ners to show consideration and only use your share of the discussion time. This is the only way everyone can get to speak. Also, there has to be time at the end of the discussion for the group to come to a conclusion. If it’s difficult for you to stop talking, try saying what’s most important first.

Pay Attention

Listen carefully when it’s someone else’s turn. It’s a good idea to take notes. With so many different ideas being talked about, this will help you to keep track of all ideas and comments.

Help Your Group Get Going

Whether your instructor has students take turns leading each group or you’re all on your own, the group needs everyone to participate. Be prepared to coax someone who’s shy. If someone is reluctant to speak, ask, “How do you feel about this?” or, “Do you agree with . . . ?” You might need to remind people to speak loud enough for everyone to hear.

Take Notes

Some instructors have students take turns recording the discussion and reporting to the class. Even if your group doesn’t have a recorder or secretary writing down what others say, take notes of what’s happening. It is also helpful to bring your own tape recorder. These tactics will help you better remember what was discussed.

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Not everybody understands best by hearing. Even those that do might be distracted by what they’re waiting to say, or by what they overhear other groups talking about.

Try to keep people’s attention by speaking clearly. Look at the faces of your group members. Does anybody look like they’re not understand- ing what you are saying? Clues might include a wrinkled forehead or nose, or even a blank stare. If you get such signals, try speaking more loudly. If someone still looks like they don’t understand you, try repeat- ing what you said in a different way. Ask someone, “Could you clearly hear what I said?” if there’s any doubt you were understood.

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A good way to make sure you heard what the speaker wanted you to hear is to repeat what you thought she said. Since people think faster than they

If you’re confused by what someone said, say what you thought you heard and follow that up with, “Is that what you meant?” If you use the exact word or phrase that your group-mate used, that will give him the sense that you understood what he said. Then you might try re-stating what he said in your own words so that you’ll both know you mean the same thing.

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After each person has spoken, the recorder reads back what each person said and the group considers how they see the same thing differently, or how they agree.

In some cases, your group might be asked to argue the matter until you come to an agreement. This is called coming to a consensus. This occurs when each person in the group consents to a certain position. Reaching consensus takes good communication skills, so be sure to listen carefully and talk using the guidelines for group etiquette above.

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Group discussion gets everyone involved. But in order for it to work well, each person needs to focus on the topic at hand, speak within time limits, listen carefully, and respect others’ opinions. Identify what you agree with and why—and what you disagree with or are confused about and why.

Practice Tips

Polish your listening and speaking skills. The next time you’re talking

with someone—at the dinner table, at the water cooler, or whatever— tell her what you thought she said and then ask her if that was what she meant. As you are speaking, repeat a word or phrase that she used. Pay close attention to her response as you speak. If she shows signs of not hearing you or being confused, try saying what you just said in a different way. Write in your notebook what seemed to work best: How did you speak so that she understood what you meant?

Have a mini group discussion. Come up with a question from your

study matter that would get a group going, something that people have opinions about or are interested in. A controversial subject is ideal here. Ask a few classmates, perhaps shortly before or after class, the question you came up with. Write in your notebook what you learned about the topic from that little discussion.

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UNDERSTOOD

There are two main ways of making yourself understood in a classroom or training situation: speaking and writing. Making yourself understood boils down to focusing on

what’s important and then explaining it so that others can understand how you feel, what you think, and what you know.

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peaking and writing are ways of

expressing yourself. When you express yourself, especially to people who don’t know you, you want to be as clear as possible; this will avoid any confusion about what you think, know, or feel. The casual way you speak and write to friends can be different from the more formal way you often need to speak and write for classmates and teachers.

Say It in Words

“I can’t describe it,” said Louie. “Can’t I just show you?”

“Try again,” said his computer instructor; “describe, in words, how you just did that operation.” Louie was stumped. Why was it so hard to explain something he knew so much about?

Speaking and writing help stimulate your thoughts. Even speaking to yourself or writing in a private journal can help you think more clearly. In these cases, it doesn’t matter how it comes out; you’re the only one who has to understand what you’re saying. But in order to be understood by others, you need to speak and write clearly and often more formally. You want to make certain that others know what you mean.