Okay, I'm way too old and out of touch with this whole 'group dynamics' thing. I don't want to deal with it, but with all these group projects in business school, I feel like I need to see this as a skill that's non-negotiable. Any advice on handling dominant teammates without creating tension?

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Consider providing feedback to your teammate as a leadership exercise. If you are leading teams or even on teams in your career you will need to give and receive feedback. Business school is a safe space to practice.
Also, perhaps you have now learned this but it is important for the team to come up with values and expectations UP FRONT so everyone is on the same page as you move forward on projects.
Again, this is a skill you will need moving forward.

smart

Thank you for this real talk! It's encouraged me to try this for my final semester.

What are your thoughts on this? (Genuine question.) I'd like to think I'm more open to giving feedback in a professional environment where others are willing to take it more seriously and actually act upon it. However, I notice that MBA seems to straddle the awkward gray area between professional work and school life, so people take more personal offense when we give feedback. How would you manage this dynamic in an awkward gray area like this?

I am right there with you, but the key is to accept that grades don’t matter. Let the neurotic people who want to spend 12 hours on a meaningless slide deck just do it. Pull your weight but don’t go the extra mile.

Agreed on pulling your weight. Don't need to go the extra mile, but as long as you pull your weight, you and your grades should naturally be fine. If you don't pull your weight, it won't help your reputation.

Personally I always communicate that I've finished XYZ parts and am busy with other ABC things (translation: I've done my part, and I'm not doing any more).

Oh I totally feel you on this and am wondering the same thing. I'd like to think a gentle call out or nudge (coming from good intentions) should work—and it can escalate if that doesn't work.

If the person won't take your feedback and still sucks, other classmates likely have the same problems with them, and the problematic group member in question will naturally ruin their own reputation because people talk lol. Time will sort things out. ;)

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