EXERCISE: This exercise asks you as students to understand how your own strengths can be used to contribute to a team. As students, you may be reluctant to share your own weaknesses. The goal is to get you to be reflective, to be open to how people approach work differently, and to encourage you to use these traits to make your team (and future teams) stronger. What were your previous experiences working collaborativelywhat worked and what didn't, and what can be done to make collaboration more productive? Openness and honesty make communication in groups more effective, and the role of communication is successful in collaborations. Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses We all have strengths and weaknesses. When working on a project, individually or as a group, some habits, skills and abilities help you accomplish your goals, and others require discipline to work through. In a group, open communication is key to successful collaboration and that includes being honest about your work habits--including your strengths and weaknesses. Consider this table to help you get started thinking about your own skills and abilities. Notice how little difference there is between some strengths and weaknesses. It's a matter of degree and discipline. Strengths and