Taming the Lion... or should I say... problematic group member

With almost every small group task comes a bigger task… dealing with a problematic group member. Problematic group members can easily take focus off the task at hand, and make communication within the group difficult. According to Nancy Eckstein’s article “Making a Lion into a Pussycat”: Working with Difficult Group Members, it is important that a debriefing happens after a negative group experience, so that the issues can be addressed and corrected.


When we are in college, we work in many small groups. Often, there is not enough time to take a step back and realize what went wrong in a group. From personal experience, getting the assignment done has been seen to be the main goal. Since this is a typical trend, small group work can be regarded as an annoyance and a bothersome way to get tasks done.



Debriefing, or looking back at a group experience will help you and your small group realize what improvements can be made (Eckstein 2005). Having to turn a “loin” or a bothersome group member into a “pussy cat” should not diminish your outlook on group activities. Every group that you encounter will likely have some sort of problems. Don’t get scared! Realize these issues, take care of them, and get on with your tasks!

Our next post will include Eckstein’s explanation of how to tame a problematic member! Make sure to check back!



Eckstein, N. (2005). “Making a Lion into a Pussycat”: Working with Difficult Group Members. Communication Teacher, 19(4), 111-115. doi:10.1080/14704620500289041.