So basically, I have a project due tomorrow, and me and my friend are supposed to be working on it. I’ve been doing all the work, like 9 slides out of 10, but I don’t want to take her name off the project, but I also don’t want to be doing all the work. So, should I just put like my name next to the slides I did or something?
Try This
- Thank you for reaching out to us. It seems like you’re feeling taken advantage of. Maybe we can give you a couple of ideas to help!
- Have you had a discussion with your friend to let her know that you’re concerned at the amount of work you’ve had to do on the project, and asked her if there’s something going on in her life that is making it difficult for her to contribute? Sometimes people are going through things we know nothing about. That doesn’t make it ok, but we may handle it a little differently.
- With the project due tomorrow, it may be difficult to get her to contribute her half of the project. You can still ask her for it, however this may be something to talk about afterward and discuss whether you are comfortable partners again without a clear division of responsibilities.
- Have you tried talking to your teacher and letting them know the situation? Maybe ask for an extension so that you can prompt your partner to do her part. If you can’t get an extension, at least your teacher knows what happened and may take that into account either with your grads or future pairings.
- Your idea of putting your names on your slides isn’t a bad one as well if you’re comfortable with it. It will show ownership as well, and let the other person know that you’re going to take credit for your portion of the project and not just accept their lack of effort.
Moving Forward
- If you aren’t doing it already, when you partner with someone for a project, sit down initially and create a clear division of tasks with deadlines. Hold each other accountable to those deadlines, so you know early on if someone isn’t pulling their weight.
- Use clear communication- let your partner know that you value their friendship, however you’re not ok with someone taking advantage of that. Tell them to let you know whether or not they plan on meeting the expectations so you can request another partner if necessary. It may seem harsh, but these boundaries will keep your project on track.
We hope this helps, and best of luck with your project!
