Works Well With Others

I have to admit, I love being a freelance writer.   My interaction with people is completely up to my scheduling and I never walk into an office full of distractions.    However, I will say that I am and definitely always have been a team player, but I do empathize with my youngest when he complained, recently, about having to do a group project.  While he complained, I was giddy with anticipation…..this would be one of his life lessons that I was witnessing.

So, the essence was he had a group project that was due for English that included four students.  Each one was to send him their portion.  Of course, as luck would have it, only three sent theirs in and Bryce was left with the daunting task of figuring out how this was going to work.   As I listened to him process the situation, or really, complain about it, I could relate.    I always ended up with someone, who was less than reliable, which heightened my major control issues.

Essentially, he was annoyed not only by his situation, but that I was giddy with the “life lesson” moment.   I want him to experience these things now, learn how to cope, and appropriately figure out a solution.   He took all the right steps in contacting his teacher, all the while complaining.   Still in the process of working towards a solution, I believe the teachable moment has been successful.   He is aware that this is a part of life.

Life is summed up with many group projects.  Let’s face it, you can’t do it alone.   There is always going to be opportunities presented where we work with others.    Some are wonderful experiences, while others lack substance.   It is simply a process.    What I want Bryce to learn is that it really isn’t about what others contribute, it is about your own accountability.     Being a team player in life launches one into a world of compromise, adaptability, and most of all, acceptance.   Accepting that not everyone has the same work ethic or even beliefs as you.   It is a simple lesson with a great deal of complexity.  I am sure that this will not be Bryce’s only annoyance working with others, but I hope he gains a new respect for how to make it work despite the efforts of others.