social behaviour in a digital world
Now that our first assignment is all done, but the short presentation later today, I wanted to reflect on team dynamics. It’s fair to say that there was a challenge or two in this first project. I don’t consider that bad, as this week has been primarily about learning about one’s self.
Part of this is the unfamiliarity the members have with each other. Most people here have known each other for four days and we’ve been working quite intimately. The benefit time gives you is that you learn where to go and to not go with certain people. Unpredictable environments can negatively impact collaborative productivity (Dunin-Keplicz, B. & Verbrugge, R., 2004).
How am I reacting to working with different personality types? Which types are more or less complimentary to mine? What about the intrinsic things we have that goes beyond type and allows us to be chameleons and cope well outside our comfort zone? Some do this well, some not so much.
We ended up, more or less, each doing a piece of the first assignment, with a lot of back and forth and feedback loops. I don’t want to judge the benefits of this in this one specific instance, because someone will always likely be the point person to edit and submit a group project, or to pull all the collaboration together into one final draft.
A touchier question for me is one we probably all grapple with. Is it better to do a part of the project which we know we’re not suited for because we want to expand our skillset, or should we go to the place that’s familiar for us since it’s easier for us to be sure of the end result? This certainly requires some soul-searching. If we’re way outside our comfort zone, will we know when we need to back off, or ask for help or not?
Dunin-Keplicz, B. & Verbrugge, R., 2004, Engineering Societies in the Agents World, pp107-122, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 am
Hi James,
I agree with your points and your concerns. I struggle with staying in my comfort zone and finding something different to stretch my skill set. I think when the pressure is intense, we will revert. If there is the perception that there is enough time, support and resources, then I am more comfortable.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Thanks Bonnie. You and I probably have slightly different comfort zones, but with how easily you slip into ‘teacher’ mode, we both clearly try to organize stuff to get to the next step.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:06 am
Hi James,
I like the topic you put forward in your blog about being out of your comfort zone. In some ways I enjoy being out of my comfort zone because if keeps me grounded in the classroom. If I get a sense of what it is like to struggle through the learning process, I think I can better connect with my students. As a teacher, I know my students strengths and weaknesses and understand that you need to create a “safe” environment in which to work on people’s weaknesses.
During the first project, I too was out of my comfort zone. I tend to be a shy observer. That’s not to say that I don’t have anything to contribute, but I have to push myself to share it. We are very fortunate to have such a great group of classmates to be out of our comfort zones with. I suspect that if you do push yourself out of your comfort zone you may leave this course with more learning than RRU claims in their advertising.
Working in a team is hard work. I think it is a fine balance between contributing and listening and leading. I just finished reading a leadership book called, “The Six Secrets of Change” and in it Michael Fullan states, “purposeful peer interaction, or perhaps I should say positive purposeful peer interaction, works effectively under three conditions (1) when the larger values of the organisation and those of the individuals and groups mesh; (2) when information and knowledge about effective practices are widely and openly shared; and (3) when monitoring mechanisms are in place to detect and address ineffective actions while also identifying and consolidating effective practices”(p.45). Effective group work is a balancing act. It is usually more difficult than working by yourself, but often you learn more from others (on the topic at hand and about yourself) and often you create a final product that is better than you could have done alone.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Hi James, et all, thought provoking question. I would agree with Bonnie and Johneen, there is value in working outside of your comfort zone however the factors that Bonnie raises are important to consider I believe. If timelines are aggressive perhaps the added pressures would not serve anyone on the team well and the tendency may be to revert back to what is comfortable vs the original intent which was to work on areas less developed or prefered. Also might want to consider makeup of the team, is there someone who has a high preference in the area you want to work on so that they can be supportive as needed.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:18 am
All good stuff. At the end of the day, the team always has to be about give and take. I think all of you are bang on.
I, too, think we’ll come out of this with much more than a couple letters behind our names.