Second Follow–up on Leading a Group Project

Follow-up to First entry on Leading a Group Project from Jay's Blog

Action points

1. I aim to get involved in a group project, either academic or otherwise, before the end of the year. This will enable me to gain experience in working within a team and provide me with opportunities to make leadership decisions. I will achieve this first step by checking noticeboards and forums for opportunities.

Since completing this workshop, I have been involved in Warwick SU Inspire programme, where I am working as part of a team of 5 in a school within Birmingham, to raise the aspirations of secondary school pupils.

2. I aim to take a proactive role in any group tasks or teamwork events that I encounter, by providing input at each stage of the task/project, and will reflect on my success before the end of the task/project.

With the Inspire project, I believe that I have took an active role; being the only member of my team with teaching experience (A few months lecturing at Henley College Coventry, and a few years part time tutoring) I have assumed leadership of the group. With this, I have helped to organise and chair meetings and have written the session plans to ensure that the school visits run smoothly.

Group tasks that I have been involved in this term also include the maintenance of Warwick university's wind turbine, with Engineers Without Borders society.

3. I aim to take the first steps towards an executive role within a society at Warwick, by being regularly involved in at least one society, and making myself known as an active contributor. I will again reflect on my success before the start of next term.

I have been in discussion with an existing member of the exec for Warwick Inspire, and am on my way to becoming a future exec member. My successful participation in the scheme and my continuation into next academic year should ensure that I have a good chance of becoming a member of the exec. I have realised that even without executive status, I can still equally make suggestions, and participate in a meaningful way, hopefully making young students change their mind for the better about whether or not to go to university.

Jamie Smith : 07 Feb 2012 00:01 |  Tags: Follow-Up Leading A Group Project P8 Portfolio |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

First entry on Leading a Group Project

I'll be updating my blog as part of the Warwick Skills Portfolio Award. Yesterday I took part in P8: Leading a Group Project.

Tutor: Mary Sage

Date of workshop:16/11/2011

The workshop included discussion of what is meant by a project. A project could be defined as an undertaking involving multiple tasks, with an overall aim.

We considered the functions taken on by leader and created group posters based on this. Points included accountability for the success of a team and responsibility of leading the team to complete tasks by deadlines.

We also discussed good and bad characteristics of a leader. Positive characteristics include good organisation skills and ability to resolve conflicts. Negative characteristics include being bad at delegation and bad at resolving conflicts.

Leadership styles can be classified into three distinct types: authoritarian, participative and delegative. Advantages of authoritarian stles include being able to start tasks much quicker, and having less oportunities for conflicts between group members. Disadvantages include difficulties with motivating group members. Advantages of participative include having consideration for the group members' ideas and having more motivation. Disadvantages include the slower decision-making time and possible arguements. Delegative benefits from having a greater perspective, with less workload on the project leader. Disadvantages may arise from less coordination and incompatible personalities.

At each stage, we presented to the rest of the group.

My leadership strengths include ability to communicate clearly and have my say, confidence to make contributions and sticking to deadlines. My weaknesses might include difficulty when there are conflicts in my team, and getting less productive team members to pull their weight.

Action points

1. I aim to get involved in a group project, either academic or otherwise, before the end of the year. This will enable me to gain experience in working within a team and provide me with opportunities to make leadership decisions. I will achieve this first step by checking noticeboards and forums for opportunities.

2. I aim to take a proactive role in any group tasks or teamwork events that I encounter, by providing input at each stage of the task/project, and will reflect on my success before the start of next academic term.

3. I aim to take the first steps towards an executive role within a society at Warwick, by being regularly involved in at least one society, and making myself known as an active contributor. I will again reflect on my success before the start of next term.

Jamie Smith : 17 Nov 2011 22:41 |  Tags: P8 Portfolio |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem