Title: Guide to Survival
Course: Reference Course Group Work > Section: Curious on more about groups and group development?

1. Lär känna grupputvecklingen
2. Förvänta dig att saker och ting är oklara när gruppen börjar
3. Förvänta dig konflikter och behandla dem som ett positivt tecken på utveckling
4. Sitt inte som åskådare utan ta ansvar för det som pågår även om det inte direkt involverar dig!
5. Stötta varandra
6. Gör färdigt dina uppgifter i tid
7. Kom på mötena

1. Get to know the group development

Group development does not always have a positive progress. Groups can get stuck at a certain stage for a longer period. The group is affected by membership changes, external requirements, leadership changes.

2. Förvänta dig att saker och ting är oklara när gruppen börjar

You will be disappointed if you expect a newly formed group to have perfectly organized meetings where you reach clear decisions. It is normal that it is messy and a little confused at first about how and what to do together.

3. Expect conflicts and treat them as a positive sign of development

Conflict is a necessary part of the process of becoming a group that works together uniformly but also to establish a safe environment. It may seem paradoxical, but conflicts develop trust. You know you can talk about things that are disagreeable. If people do not feel free to express their views, the group's results will be worse. Limit conflicts to facts, roles and structure. Compromise if possible and help each other or ask for help!

4. Don't sit as a spectator but take responsibility for what is going on even if it does not directly involve you!

Each group member is responsible for the group'. Do not wait for the teacher or other members to solve the problem or save the situation, to share your ideas, concerns or doubts.

5. Stötta varandra

Give supportive statements eg; "Thank you for that suggestion Ida", "I really appreciate what you say Marie", "I agree with you Markus". Research shows that in groups that perform well, there are 15–20 supportive claims per 100 claims. A little encouragement is honey!

6. Complete your information on time

The groups are groups even outside the time you set aside. Group members work together and individually. Trust is based on action and not words. If you can trust each other and everyone does what you have agreed on, things will run smoothly.

7. Come to the meetings

You cannot be a group if the group members are not there. If the group is reshaped by not everyone being together then a lot of time needs to be spent on updating the one that was not included.

Monica Naeser, Student Health, Karlstad University 2018