Whether it’s a Performance Task (PETA) or group work, every time the teacher announces an activity, one thing is for sure, another group chat on messenger will be birthed!

Most students prefer to do group works than individual activities. Why? First, it lessens the burden for the students. “Two heads are better than one,” some people would say. They won’t have to carry the load alone. Second, they will have a reason to go out and have fun with friends while doing their project.

In every group work, there is a group leader. Some people are born leaders. They love taking the lead and calling the shots. In some instances, there are also those who are just forced to lead because no one else wants to. The big question is, what if you were chosen to lead a group in your class? Are you up for the challenge?

Here are some tips that can help you lead your group.

1. Know your leadership style.

More often than not, the whole group relies on the leader for instructions and direction. Before you lead your group, it would be best to assess your leadership style, identify your strengths, and evaluate your weaknesses so you would know how to lead your group effectively. When your classmates see that you are trustworthy and reliable, they will acknowledge your leadership and follow you.

There’s plenty of resources online that can help you discover your leadership style. Knowing your style will help you grow your leadership skills not just for school, but even beyond your student years.

Whatever kind of a leader you are, know that it’s group work. You will work with people. Make sure to have a listening ear ready for them. They will desire to listen and work with you when they know where you are going.

2. Know the people you are leading.

Each member of the group is important. Each member may come from different backgrounds and have different strengths and weaknesses, but the good thing about this diversity is that one’s strength will complement another’s weakness, and so on.

In order to lead them well, you must know each one’s strengths, weaknesses, personality, and working style.

Whether you have the most cooperative teammates or not, teamwork makes the group work. Assigning tasks to people according to their strengths will help you accomplish your group work with greater ease and efficiency.

Just like P.T. Barnum in the movie The Greatest Showman, don’t focus on the flaws of your group mates, but see their potential. Believe in your group mates. If you, as a leader, need trust from them, they will also need it from you.

3. Focus on the goal.

One of the leader’s responsibilities is to clearly communicate the group’s goal and to make sure that everyone is working toward achieving it. When the goal is not clear, the group will mostly like fail. During your group meetings, get everyone’s commitment to set aside all possible distractions and to focus on the tasks at hand. Give clear deadlines and instructions to remove confusion from the team.

Feel free to ask updates from them. Offer help whenever necessary. However, you must be careful not to micromanage your group. It’s a sure way to demotivate them. On the contrary, keep them motivated by serving them, inspiring them to work together, and to model your diligence without doing all of the tasks on your own.

4. Have fun.

Don’t forget to have fun! You are working with your friends after all, not with slaves or robots! Be sure not to take out the fun as you work on your project. The reason it is a group work because it’s not just about the result of the work but also about the relationship of the group. If you feel your members are stressed and pressured, why not lighten things up a bit with a joke or a meme? That will surely bring fun into the group. You will be surprised how friendships are built or even grow stronger while doing the group work. Have fun while still focusing on the goal!

Know that first of all, you have been chosen as the leader. People believe in you.

They see your leadership potential and ability. You can do it!