We all have experienced the fun which comes from group projects. With every project you do as a group, you will take on a role which often varies depending on timing, nature of the project, class, etc.

1. The Figure Head: This person is often the most dominant personality in the group. They are known for taking over the conversation and sticking to their guns. Often, this person does most of the talking and idea-making. This person is an asset in that they often have a good understanding of what they are talking about, making them useful in oral presentations. More than anything, though, they take the lead on answering questions that most of us don’t want to answer.

2. The Micro-Manager: Known for being incredibly annoying and always on your case, this person has a love/hate relationship with the rest of the group. They will push you to make sure your part is done which can be irritating, but at the end of the day, they are the person who is going to make sure that all of the work is done right and submitted on time.

3. The Submissive One: This group member often gets by under the radar by simply doing what they’re told. You won’t hear much from them in the working process, but you can always count on them to get the job done to satisfaction.

4. The Confused One: This person is easily the most underrated group member. This person will ask tons of questions which may get on your nerves, but is actually really helpful. By talking through these questions, you gain a better understanding of the work you are doing and the group can make sure they are on the same page.

5. Devil’s Advocate: This is the arguer of the group. Most of the things they say will start with the words “Just to play Devil’s advocate”, which will make you cringe, but is ultimately a good thing. This person provides insight that you may not have considered and forces you to work through the kinks in your project.

6. The Busy One: This is the one you can never get a hold of, and often has other things to do whenever you want to meet. I’d love to say that they contribute meaningfully to the group, but mostly they just put their name on the final project.

7. The Tech-ey One: Often, this group member is the work mule of the group. They have a better understanding of the medium you are using for your project and they know it. They are content taking the reigns on the technology aspect and make sure everything looks as good as possible.

8. The Wild Card: Sadly, every group has one. This is just a person that despite lots of discussion just kinda does their own thing. This can fare either really well or really poorly. If you’re lucky, it’ll diversify your project just enough to make it effective. However, much of the time it just compromises the cohesiveness of the project.