Quiz: Loathsome or awesome – what kind of teammate are you?

23 Jan 2019

At university, group projects are either the bane of your existence or the best thing that could happen.

Depending on the type of student you are, you’ll either loathe them, seeing them as opportunities for lazy students to latch on to you to help them pull their grades up, or you could be the one relying on others to get you through.

We know – succeeding as a team requires a lot of patience, hardwork and compromise, especially when you’re working beside so many taxing personalities. But teamwork is not only part of your academic life, it will soon be part of your working life too.

So, what kind of teammate are you?

Let’s find out.

1. Your lecturer has ‘randomly’ (pfft!) assigned your class into teams for your group project. Which of the following statement best reflects what you’re likely to do next?

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Make it a point to get in touch with everyone on the team to exchange contact details and schedule a group meeting at a convenient time

Quietly accept your fate

Complain to your best mate about how you always get stuck with ‘sucky’ teammates for group projects

Do absolutely nothing

2. Your first group meeting will be held after lunch. Which of the following statements best describes you?

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You’re the first person to arrive - and five minutes early, too!

You’ll arrive at the meeting on time

You’ll arrive fashionably late, with your lunch in your hands

You forgot you had a meeting

3. It’s time to elect a team leader. Do you:

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Assign yourself as a leader when it’s crystal clear no one wants the responsibility

Look down at your desk, thinking, “Not me, not me, not me...”

Suggest the most reliable teammate - but it’s not yourself

"Wait, what?!" - you weren't present when the leader was elected

4. Your team leader has assigned everyone their tasks, as well as deadlines for completion. Between now and the deadline, you are most likely to be the person who:

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Reminds everyone about their deadline and religiously checks up on their progress

Reads the reminders from your team leader but can’t be bothered to say anything in the group chat

Think, “This person needs a chill pill - the deadline’s still pretty far off!” when reminded about your deadline

Haven’t opened your messages since the group chat’s inception

5. As the witching hour for your deadline looms, you…

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Already have your part done and dusted

Have almost completed your end of the bargain, but know that it will be ready in time to meet the deadline

Realise you’ve barely started and pull an all-nighter to get it done

Have done absolutely nothing

6. Everyone in the team has completed their task except for one person. You...

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Complete that person’s task when it’s clear no one wants to do it, or out of fear that your team might do a half-hearted job

Think to yourself, “I knew so-and-so was unreliable”, but keep your thoughts to yourself

Wait for the team leader to make a suggestion (that hopefully does not entail you having to help with that teammates’ part)

Are the guilty party who did not complete the task and avoid responding to your team’s attempts to contact you

Loathsome or awesome? Find out what kind of teammate are you with our quiz

The reliable teammate

You care about your grades even if your teammates don’t, but that’s not going to stop you from shining. You’re willing to go the extra mile to ensure things are done on time, even if it means hustling others into action. You may not see yourself as a leader, but when push comes to shove, you’ll take the lead and steer your team to victory - or as close as possible to it!

The quiet teammate

You’re responsible enough to attend all your meetings and get tasks done, but you may be too shy to speak up at meetings and prefer others to do the talking. Needless to say, you’ll avoid taking on leadership roles and prefer to work behind the scenes.

The major procrastinator

Chances are, you’re someone who needs that last-minute panic coursing through your veins before your creative juices kick into action. You’re a bit more laid back and prefer working closer to the deadline to keep your motivation up. You may frustrate some of your teammates with your laidback nature, but you know that at the end of the day, you’ll get your part of the task done.

The person no one wants on the team...

Ai yai yai! It’s not just control freaks or those who care about their grades who will find it difficult to work with you; chances are, you’re the teammate no one wants to get stuck with - ever. You may have a tendency to not show up to meetings, failing to complete your end of the bargain and simply going MIA over the course of your group assignment. Perhaps it’s time to change your ways and be more responsible for your work in group projects?