Group work is an important aspect of college assignments, typically designed to develop teamwork and foster understanding among team members in real-world settings. However, to students with executive dysfunction, such assignments can be overwhelming. Executive dysfunction also impairs the brain’s ability to plan, prioritize, initiate, think critically, and follow through on processes, all of which are essential skills required for teamwork. When other students find it easy to deconstruct the project, allocate tasks, and stay on course, students with executive dysfunction may lose hope in their ability to communicate, organize, and manage time effectively. Anxiety and avoidance might appear due to the fear of the perceived accusations of laziness and other reasons to disappoint a group.
Understanding the Barriers in Group Work
Group work may present several challenges for students with executive dysfunction. Managing multiple individuals can be particularly daunting. The added responsibility of frequent communication, organizing meetings, providing updates, and meeting demands can feel like an avalanche. Students with executive dysfunction may struggle to keep track of multiple tasks and follow instructions, as well as understand who is responsible for what. Another challenge is the initiation and transfer of functions. Even if you know what task is to be undertaken, it can still feel like you need to wade through the haze to get the job going.
Communicating Transparently and Setting Boundaries
A good way to handle group projects begins with effective communication, where truthful and positive interaction plays a crucial role. You should communicate your working style to teammates as soon as possible, without revealing too much about the details of how you work or your personal preferences; instead, describe how you can work most effectively. For example, written deadlines are preferable to verbal ones, and a visual checklist helps keep you accountable. It is also essential to set some boundaries. Confusion can be prevented or eliminated by setting in advance on which means of communication are most preferred and the time limits within which responses are to be made.
Using External Supports and Reminders
With executive dysfunction, internal planning and organization are compromised. It can be helpful to externalize it. This would imply establishing standard documents or calendars that outline deadlines, tasks, and assign responsibilities. The visual organization enables the whole team to follow a direction, eliminating the need to remember everything. Any shared Google Docs, Trello, or Notion pages can become group-friendly systems, making progress easy to track. It is also possible to set a reminder or alarm before every deadline to help you stay on track.
Breaking Down the Project into Smaller Pieces
The bigger the tasks, the more problematic they are to perform by someone with executive dysfunction, as the latter thinks they are vague and has no control over them. To address this problem, one option is to divide the project into small, well-defined steps. Even in the part you are given in the project, break it down further. For example, if you are in charge of research, you can take small steps, such as locating sources, writing summaries, and taking notes. Learning to plan this way is part of building executive functioning strategies for college students, which help improve long-term academic performance, not just group project success. These practices de-stress a person and promote confidence, particularly when assignments are no longer related to crisis mode.
Being Honest with Yourself and Practicing Self-Compassion
There will be moments when some things will fall through the cracks, deadlines will seem insurmountable, or communication lines will get blocked. The trick is not to turn around and self-blame, but to be aware and solve the problems. Questions you can ask yourself include what exactly got in the way, such as a lack of knowledge on where to begin, forgetting an appointment, or taking on too much work. By telling the truth to yourself, you get to realign your systems so that you are not making the same mistake again. It is essential to learn to be self-compassionate.
Conclusion
Group projects seem intimidating to work through in the face of executive dysfunction. However, they do not always have to be the primary point of stress or humiliation. Through sincere communication, progressive planning strategies, and a versatile working style, collaborative assignments can be managed in a manner that safeguards your mental energy and stages your role recognition. Building systems that externalize planning, using your strengths, and applying executive functioning strategies for college students can transform group work from an obstacle into an opportunity. Employing the approach in which you work on what makes you excel and not conform to a strict image, you will be able to remain an efficient member of a team without compromising your health.
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
About the Author
