A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I have a college course that requires me to write several reports on laboratory activities.I ended up in a lab group with two of my friends, which I get along with perfectly fine. However, I've always had trouble working in groups. I have a very specific way of writing, I like my reports to be clean, concise, with all the information, and with modern and with pleasant colored pictures.However, the girls I'm with don't write half the things I thought we should put, they don't know how to put references, they choose horrible images that make the paper look like a 5th grade's reports.I offered to type the report in, so that I could put nice pictures and get the whole thing a bit more decent. I did it. I sent the draft to them. One of them changed the theoretical introduction (made it extremely simple, c'mon, we're in college!), the other offered to add the procedures (which I had forgotten, my bad), but instead change everything. Letter type, images, and whatnot.Basically, I'm miserable with this report, and we still have another 4 to go.How can I deal with this? Should I just force myself to like they way they like to do the report? Or should I try to be the last one to have it before it's printed, so that I can change things in the last minute? Reply to this Question
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male
reader, Sageoldguy1465  +, writes (10 March 2013):
 Pick your battles carefully. Compromise if and as you must to get enough concurrance to get the darn thing completed. Turn it in to whoever grades/rates it....
IF your observations are "correct" (in keeping with what the grader would like to see, or would prefer), then all of you will learn about that when you get feedback....
You may (surprise!) learn that who is grading/rating the report is quite content/pleased with its content as your compatriots have made it.... and your angst about YOUR preferences will have been for naught...
SOMETIMES those of us who are uber-bright (I'm one of them... like YOU!!!) find that our exacting standards aren't all that necessary in the mortal world!!!!!
Good luck.....
A
male
reader, zexylxion +, writes (10 March 2013):
 You have the option to tell them how you feel about the changes they've made. If you're unhappy with the results then say so, it is a group project after all and your input should be welcome.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (10 March 2013): Well, welcome to the world of academia. The melding of minds isn't easy. The problem you are facing is a collision of egos. None of you are capable of working as a team. That is why you were put in a group in the first place. It is part of the learning process. Your post colors you as a condescending person.You're all competing with each other, and you're likely to fail this project! Hone your people skills young lady!This happens all too often. First of all, you're harshly critical and dismissive of the contributions everyone else is making. The truth is, you want to shine above all theothers. They are all aware of it. The fact that you have two friends in the group may be working against you. They will call you out when you're showing off. That can be both productive and counter-productive. It all depends on you!Your group has to learn to put your heads together, and stop butting them like a bunch of baby billy goats.Stand your ground where you know what is best for the report. Identify weaknesses and errors you've found in the report with facts to back up your opinions; without trying to make everyone else feel they're stupid, or working "under" you. You are a team; and if you want to assume team-leadership, you best work it out with the others first! You have to accept criticism yourself; if you want others to be receptive to yours.If I were in your shoes, I'd check out how the other groups are getting along and determine what's missing in yours. You have little time left and you best get cracking! If your report receives a failing mark, it will be due to wasted time. Fact and substance is more important than pretty graphs and flowery presentation! You are being graded as a group, this is not your personal project!I can almost imagine what your professor would say; if he or she was aware of what's going on in your group. You were put together for a reason.
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