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Introduction: The Group Project Dilemma

Imagine starting a group project with big plans and even bigger hopes. Your team meets up. Everyone agrees on a goal. It all seems to be going so well, until someone doesn’t contribute. Deadlines slip. Messages go unanswered. Slowly, the group’s enthusiasm turns to frustration.

If this has happened to you, you’re not alone! Nearly every student has felt the challenges of working in a team. The truth is that even great teams struggle sometimes. but that doesn’t mean group work isn’t valuable. It means that teamwork is a skill, one that takes practice and a growth mindset.

The next three chapters will explore why group work is so common in college, how it benefits you academically and personally, and why learning to collaborate well is a skill you’ll use long after graduation.

Why Group Work Matters

You’ll need teamwork everywhere
In nearly every career, and much of your everyday life, you’ll work with others. Employers consistently say that they value graduates who can collaborate, solve problems in teams, and communicate effectively.^[1] These skills matter just as much as technical knowledge. Even outside of work, teamwork skills help you navigate relationships, volunteer roles, family responsibilities, and community leadership.

Collaboration improves learning
Research shows that when students work together:

• • • They learn more and retain it longer^[2]
    • They develop stronger critical thinking and problem-solving skills^[3]
    • They engage more deeply with the material^[4]
    • They often perform better on assignments^[5]

When the Covid-19 pandemic shifted education in the United States online, instructors not only moved group work online as well, but they actually increased its use. Vogel and Wood’s 2023 study found students preferred working in small groups of two or three, which helped support accountability and foster relationships.^[6] While most students still preferred to complete most of their assignments independently, they appreciated the opportunity to build friendships and connect with classmates, especially when in-person interactions were limited.

Working together builds confidence and community
Group work can help reduce anxiety and isolation. Especially after the social challenges that many students faced during remote learning. Working with peers can increase your sense of belonging and support. In studies conducted during and after the pandemic, students said that peer interaction in group projects helped them feel more connected and motivated.^[7]

Even when groups face conflict (and most do), learning to navigate those challenges helps build confidence and prepares you for real-world teamwork.

Group work develops essential skills

• • • • Communication
      • Leadership
      • Negotiation
      • Conflict Resolution
      • Time Management

These aren’t just workplace skills. They’re life skills.

But…group work can be challenging (and that’s normal!)

Let’s be honest. Most of us have experienced at least one group project where:

1. 1. • One person did most of the work
      • Some team members didn’t contribute equally
      • Scheduling meetings felt impossible
      • Group discussions went off track or became tense

These are common challenges, not signs that you or your group have failed. They show why developing teamwork skills matters. Successful teams don’t avoid problems. Instead, they learn how to manage issues and grow stronger because of them.

Looking Ahead

In the next chapter, you’ll learn what makes some groups succeed while others struggle. You’ll discover key traits of high-performing teams and simple, practical strategies to help your team communicate, collaborate, and complete work more effectively.