“Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.”
John C. Maxwell
You can’t expect results of a high-performing business and a good team ethic without a strong team. So this time, we will focus on effective internal collaboration. There are a lot of tips and guidelines that explain what a good and successful team looks like but there aren’t a lot of them that tell you how YOU can contribute as a great team player! You can’t expect to work in a close and collaborative manner in a group of people without you being the first one to demonstrate good old fashioned team spirit. We feel that there is no need for us to tell you what are the bad consequences of a work environment that lacks collaboration but in case you need a reminder… low performance, job dissatisfaction, conflict within the workplace, etc.
Even if you currently don’t have a job and you’re looking for one, your potential employer will probably be searching for an excellent employee who is capable of working both as a “one-man show” and as a team player.
In case you feel that your work team isn’t functioning well, don’t just sit and wait for things to magically get better. Use these tips to set an example for how a great team player and employee walks, talks, listens, operates… and the rest will follow!
Know your role.
In order for you to perform well, you must understand how your role in the group contributes to achieving team’s goals. If you are confused, don’t be afraid to ask your team leader what are the specific expectations related to your role.
Know one another.
Get to know your teammates and vice versa. Don’t hesitate to communicate with them in an informal manner. Informal communication is key to establish good relationships with your colleagues.
Belief in a common cause.
There will be times when you will get frustrated with your teammates but remember and remind your teammates that you share the same goals, given the fact that you are a part of one team.
Seek honest and open feedback.
Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Always ask yourself what YOU can do to be better. Suggestions and feedback from your teammates are a valuable source of information that can help you grow and flourish.
Acknowledge other people’s contributions.
Don’t hesitate to praise and compliment others when they do or achieve something great. When someone comes up with a great idea don’t be silent, speak up and show support. A kind word goes a long way. But be careful. If you are not honest about it people will pick up on that.
Share the knowledge and trust.
Put in an effort to help your teammates and keep them in the loop. Share your information, knowledge, and experience. If you act in a distrustful way the others won’t trust you either. Show that you trust them (and mean it) and the others will do the same.
Take responsibility for your own actions.
If you made some sort of error always, and I mean always ‘fess up to it and don’t try to blame the others for your mistakes. We are human after all and we all make mistakes. The truth will always surface eventually and the lie you told will make you look bad. The truth will set you free.
Assertive communication.
Assertive communication is the KEY. If you think that being a team player means forgetting your own needs and conforming even when you don’t agree with the majority, you’re wrong. That also doesn’t mean that you should be aggressive when declaring your contrary opinions. Have respect for other people’s opinions and keep emotions in check. If you think you have a problem with communication, don’t worry. There are courses specially designed to teach you good assertive communication.
On the other hand, if you feel that you gave your best and still, you just don’t fit in and if you feel that you can’t relate to the members of your team, maybe it’s because your core values don’t match theirs. And values do matter! If that’s the case, try finding a new job where people will have core values similar to your own. But the first step should probably be to identify your own values. So ask yourself one simple question: What really matters to you most?
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