Dealing with Hitchhikers and Free Loaders

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In general, you will find your E328/E343/M201 TEAMmates as interested in learning as you are. Occasionally, however, you may meet someone who is unwilling or unable to cooperate, or who does not do her or his fair share of the work. It is important for you to learn to solve problems like this because you will deal with similar ones when you become a teacher. I’ve come to realize that if I am not part of the solution, I am (often unknowingly) part of the problem. These “how to” tips, based on Dr. Barbara Oakley's article “It Takes Two to Tango,” provide you with practical advice should you find yourself in the following situation.

Suppose that you, Chadd, Alesha, and Jennifer are taking a course with Dr. Amenable, and are in an assigned work group. Chadd is okay. He's not good writer, but he tries hard, and he willingly does things like get extra help from the Writing Tutorial Center. Alesha is annoying. She's nice enough, but she just doesn't put in the effort to do a good job. She'll sheepishly give you partially completed assignments and confess to spending the weekend partying with friends.

Jennifer, the Hitchhiker

Jennifer, on the other hand, is nothing but a problem. Here are a few of the things she does:

• Jennifer rarely turns in her part of TEAM assignments or projects. When she does, it's obvious she's spent just enough time to jot something down that give the impression of being related to the assignment, but you can't help wondering if she's even read the assignment requirements.
• When you try to set up TEAM meetings, Jennifer can't meet because she's too busy. And when you do schedule one that is convenient for her (but inconvenient for everyone else on the TEAM), she misses the meeting. She always promises she'll be there, but she never comes, or shows up five minutes before the meeting ends.
• Jennifer never answers phone messages. When you challenge her, she denies getting your messages. When you e-mail her, her mailbox is so full that your message is undeliverable.
• Jennifer's writing skills are okay, but she doesn't focus on the assignment at hand. She loses the drafts, doesn't reread her work, and fails to follow the assignment guidelines. You've stopped assigning her work because you don't want to miss due dates.
• Jennifer constantly complains about her sixty-hour workweek, double clusters, unfeeling boyfriend, and terrible teachers. At first you felt sorry for her, but now you're just annoyed. You've even begun to wonder if Jennifer is using you.

You and the other members of your TEAM are so upset that you decide to discuss the situation with your instructor. Dr. Amenable meets with your group to discuss the situation. In a sincere and convincing manner, Jennifer says she doesn't understand what everyone wants her to do. Dr. Amenable believes that the problem is one of miscommunication. She notices that you, Chadd, and Alesha look angry and agitated, while Jennifer simply looks bewildered and hurt. It's easy for Dr. Amenable to conclude that this is a dysfunctional group, and everyone is at fault. The bottom line is that you and the other members of your TEAM are left holding the bag. Jennifer will get the same good grades as everyone else, but without doing the work. And, she's managed to make everyone else look insensitive and uncaring.

The Problem: Absorbing

In the above scenario, you were a member of an “absorber group” because you and your TEAMmates absorbed the problem when Jennifer would not cooperate. You may have even taken pride in getting the job done whatever the cost. Hitchhikers count on you to act in a benevolent, self-sacrificing way. As Dr. Oakley notes, “the nicer you are (or the nicer you think you are being), the more the hitchhiker will be able to hitchhike their way through the university-and through life.”

The Solution: Mirroring

Oakley advises that you “reflect back the dysfunctional behavior of the hitchhiker, so the hitchhiker pays the price-not you. Never accept accusations, blame, or criticism from a hitchhiker. Maintain your own sense of reality despite what the hitchhiker says, (easier said than done). Show you have a bottom line [and that] there are limits to the behavior you will accept . . . . Set limits early and high, because hitchhikers have an uncanny ability to detect just how much they can get away with . . . . Clearly communicate these limits and act consistently on them.” Here are some recommended strategies to follow when dealing with E328/E343/M201 (and other) hitchhikers:

• If a TEAMmate submits poorly prepared work, you must tell her she/him that s/he has not contributed meaningfully, and that his/her name will not be on the final product unless s/he revises the work and submits it in time to be included. No matter what this person says, stick to your guns! If s/he gets abusive, show me the work. Do this the FIRST time the hitchhiker submits poor quality work, before s/he takes advantage of the TEAM, not a month later when you are frustrated.
• If a TEAMmate does not turn anything in, her/his name should not go on the finished product. However, if you know your TEAMmate is generally a contributor, it may be appropriate to help her/him if something unexpected such as an illness or personal emergency arises. You and your TEAMmates are permitted to “fire” someone from your TEAM if s/he does not contribute over the course of an assignment or two. If you fire someone from your TEAM, the would-be freeloader will have to work alone for the rest of the semester. BEFORE FIRING someone from your TEAM, make an appointment to discuss this option with me.
• When a TEAMmate can't find the time to meet because of a busy schedule, even when alternatives are suggested, you need to decide whether or not s/he is a hitchhiker. Suspicious signs include abruptness, self-importance, and being in a hurry to get away. You need to tell this person to either find time to meet or to talk to me.
• When a TEAMmate doesn't return your voice mail messages, respond to your e-mails, or show up for meetings, don't waste time trying to contact him/her. Forward any messages you have already sent directly to me so that you and I have the necessary documentation to deal with the situation.

Remember, the only one who can handle Jennifer's problems is Jennifer. You can't change her; but you can change your own attitude toward her so that she can no longer takes advantage of you. It's also important to bear in mind that Jennifer will have no incentive to change if you do all her work for her. This is an important lesson you will need as a future teacher since you will have to deal with students who are hitchhikers when you become a teacher. Individuals like Jennifer can be skilled manipulators. As Oakley observes, “by the time you find out her problems are never-ending, and that she herself is their cause, the semester has ended and she is off to repeat her manipulations on a new, unsuspecting group. Stop allowing these dysfunctional patterns early in the game-before the hitchhiker takes advantage of you” and the rest of your TEAM!

Alesha, the Freeloader

So what about Alesha? She's nice and you enjoy working with her—she brings good snacks to meetings and is always on time. And Alesha did join the rest of the TEAM in trying to battle Jennifer's unreasonable behavior. Unfortunately, she hasn't been contributing her fair share of the work and you've had to pick up the slack. According to Oakley, the best way to deal with a freeloader like Alesha “is the same way you deal with a hitchhiker: set firm, explicit expectations, then stick to your guns. Although [free loaders] are not as manipulative as hitchhikers, they will definitely test your limits. If your limits are weak, you then share the blame if you have [Alesha's] work to do as well as your own.”

But I Don't Like to Confront People!

I'm sure you want to do the right thing, and to avoid hurting other's feelings. Even the thought of confronting others may make you feel uncomfortable. Learning to be firm, while also being fair, factual, and friendly, is an important teacher skill. By learning to deal with freeloaders and hitchhiker now you can grow both personally and professionally. If you don't learn to confront this kind of behavior, this might effect your decision to teacher for two years instead of twenty years! Oakley advises that you “be patient with yourself as you learn. The first few times you try to be firm, you may find yourself thinking, But now she won't like me. It's not worth the pain! But many people just like you have had exactly the same troubled reaction the first few (or even many) times they tried to be firm. Just keep trying and stick to your guns! Someday it will seem more natural” and you won't feel bad for setting equitable expectations. In the meantime, you may find you have more time to spend with your significant other, friends, or coursework, because you aren't doing someone else's job in addition to your own.

Here are some common personal characteristics which Dr. Oakley suggests may allow hitchhikers or free loaders to take advantage of you:

• Your motto is, “I cooperated all by myself.” You tend to feel responsible for others at the expense of being responsible for yourself.
• You are committed to the ideal of ‘the good of the TEAM' without realizing how you allow others to take advantage of you. You don't know how to delegate.
• You generally feel you MUST do better-your best is never enough.
• You are reluctant to allow a slacker to fail and subsequently learn from her or his own mistakes.
• You are willing, or may like, to make others happy even at your own expense.
• You are ready to perceive the slightest contribution by a slacker as a step forward.
• You are willingness to make personal sacrifices in order not to “give up” on a hitchhiker or freeloader without realizing how you devalue yourself in the process.
• You are a long-suffering martyr-no one but you would tolerate the hitchhiker or freeloader.
  

Are You Doing All the Work for Your TEAM?

The moment you become aware that others are leaving the TEAM's work to you, or that someone is doing such poor work that you are left doing it for them, you need to take action. I will permit you to move to another TEAM if your reason is justifiable. Remember, you will meet hitchhikers and freeloaders throughout your university and teaching careers. According to Dr. Oakley, freeloaders “are relatively benign, can often be firmly guided to do reasonably good work, and can even become your friends. However, hitchhikers are completely different people-ones who can work their way into your confidence and then destroy it.” It's your life. Are you part of the solution or part of the problem? Like Jennifer, only you can solve your own problems.

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Created from: Posting 441 of TOMORROW'S INSTRUCTOR LISTSERV, a shared mission partnership with the American Association for Higher Education (AASHE), The National Teaching and Learning Forum (NT&LF), and Stanford University. This posting was contributed by Barbara Oakley, Assistant Instructor of Engineering, Oakland University, Rochester MI, <oakley@oakland.edu>. A longer version of this article, titled “It Takes Two to Tango,” appeared in the Journal of Student Centered Learning, Volume 1, Issues 1, 2003, pg 19-28. New Forum Press http://www.newforums.com/news_jccpage.html

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