Respond by to your colleagues’ responses to the group discussion. In your response, reflect on how a social worker can use a strengths-based perspective to overcome group difficulties.(Please us at least 1 APA reference and be detailed in response)

Response to Mary Kate,

Describe your experience working in groups or as a team:

I attended a four-year university that required group work in almost every single class. At times, I found this group work to be quite frustrating because often my group members and I saw things differently so it took a lot of hard work to get on the same page about assignments. I found that once you start a group project it is important to start a group text if available. Often we would try to work through emails, but students tend to overlook emails, so I have found that using a group text is the most effective form of communication for group work.

Explain the importance of collaborating with different groups and building coalitions in order to advocate for community and policy change:

In order to be an effective advocate, it is important that you are able to work together in a group. It is unlikely that you will be able to advocate for change entirely on your own. Jannsson (2018) explains that policy advocates rarely work alone and that they often come together with other groups in order to advocate for policy change (p. 25). Not only is there strength in numbers, but it is beneficial to work in groups because multiple minds can come up with many great ideas.

Wiki Page

List one strength you will bring to your group:

One strength that I have and can utilize in group work is that I am good an being a leader. In previous group work, I was good at coordinating who would do what and ensuring that the group work was divided evenly and fairly. I believe that it is important that group members feel that the work is being divided fairly and that no one is completing the majority of the work.

Describe a potential difficulty that may occur within the group and explain a strategy you will recommend to your group to address that difficulty:

A potential difficulty that could occur within the group is a lack of time management and the possibility that group members do not complete their group work on time. The only way that a group can be effective is if we all work together to complete the task at hand. I would recommend that my group members could work on time management in order to ensure tasks are being completed.

References

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice. (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.