Rich with social capital

Our group, the Specific Pacifics, is getting along swimmingly. I wish I could define and record the precise reasons why so I could replicate this experience for myself and also project it onto my students. One factor, I think, is that we are lucky to have personalities and learning styles that mingle and compliment each another nicely. No deliberate action brought that about, so that's just dumb luck. We are all pretty motivated and task-oriented and although we have made our share of "small talk" we seem to intuitively know when to get down to business. Also noteworthy, is that roles shift and morph around the group with remarkable ease and grace. Individuals step up and become downright proactive, with the support and gratitude of the rest of the team and then the next person takes the lead. I think that's the most salient lesson I have learned thus far from my group and message that I could pass on: If you see the opportunity to do something proactive, then do it -- and then welcome the feedback, revision, debate from teammates. That seems to move things forward the most quickly.