Group Projects

A number of years ago there was a popular commercial on television that had the punch line, "I'd rather do it myself." I have been thinking about the sentiment of that line recently as I have started grading the group projects that are being turned in by students in the public relations class I currently teach. From working with the students and answering questions they have had throughout this process, I know some group members are not having the best of times collaborating with others. A few have even asked if they could switch to other groups or be given a different assignment all together. I have turned down each request because I did not deem any of the conflicts to be worthy of making that kind of change. Plus, I feel it is important that students learn to deal and/or collaborate with others they may not particularly like, agree with, or even feel comfortable with.

The reality is that all of us from time to time join forces with others we would much rather not be around. No, it is not fun and, at times, it can even be a bit stressful. But life being what it is, there are times when we find ourselves in situations when interacting with people we do not like or appreciate is an option we cannot avoid. And, as it is with the group projects in my public relations class, sometimes how we are evaluated or judged is dependent on the efforts of those same persons - not just ourselves. That reality only adds to the stress of this kind of scenario. From my perspective, the key question from a communication perspective is: What can one do to turn this lemon of a challenge into lemonade?

The answer is found in the fundamental strategy of any public relations effort designed to establish a connection between more than one public: identify the challenge, dilemma or area of concern that you share. Let that be the glue that keeps you and your unwanted partner connected. If necessary, post it on a message board that you see every day. Do not let any differences in style or even personality get in the way of or blind you to that basic commonality. That, coupled with a healthy dose of patience and perseverance, should ultimately win the day. The best kind of public relations speaks to the needs of more than one. It is also not always easily attainable but by successfully maintaining open lines of communication, it is doable.