Page 20 - March2017

Six Things You Can Do to

Be a Better Team Player

While being a superstar has its appeal (fame, fortune, If you often enter situations thinking you already have most
first-class), there’s not a whole lot of room in the corporate of the answers, you’re not only being a poor team player,
world, or even in our personal lives, for a one-man or but you are also severely limiting your chances to learn
woman show. Learning to shine as part of a team, rather and grow.
than trying to be the star hovering above it (or avoiding it
altogether) will do a lot more for your career and sense of 4 – Establish and Maintain Trust
well-being in the long run.
Avoid gossiping and back-stabbing behavior. Nothing
Of course, as with most things, being a strong team player sabotages the efforts and effectiveness of a team like
is a lot easier said than done. It takes learning and practice. distrust and anger. By making an effort to build positive
But, whether your team is a small group working on a relationships through open and honest communication,
single project, a department working on achieving yearly you are likely to be more productive as well as get more
goals, or an entire company trying to move to the next enjoyment out of your work.
level, here are six basic strategies you can start using today
to be the kind of teammate everyone wants on their side. 5 – Share What You Know
1 – Be Approachable The point of working as a team is to combine the
knowledge, expertise, and efforts of a variety of people.
If you tend to do a lot of sighing, eye-rolling, or exploding The interaction of everyone’s thoughts and ideas creates
when someone asks for your help or your input, it’s a pretty a whole new realm of possibilities that wouldn’t exist on
strong indicator that you’re not at the top of the “Best Team the individual level. If you tend to hold back your ideas
Players” list. Everyone needs help now and then - including because you want sole credit or want to be seen as the only
you. So, no matter how unimportant the request may seem expert, you are doing yourself and the team a disservice.
to you, remember that it is important to the person asking Sharing information empowers you and those around you
and you should treat them and their request with respect. by elevating everyone’s level of knowledge and making the
Make an effort to follow the golden rule of treating others team and the organization as a whole that much stronger.
the way you would you like to be treated.
6 – Put the Team First
2 – Be Responsive
When you find yourself thinking, “What’s in it for me?”
Don’t ignore people’s requests in the hope that they’ll go stop and reframe the question, asking “What’s in it for the
away. None of us work in a vacuum. The truth is, most team?” or “What could we do differently that would benefit
of the work that goes on inside a company is much more the group as a whole?” It’s important to understand that no
interconnected than we all think. Too often we focus only team member is “better” or more important than the rest.
on our piece of the goal and feel we don’t have time for Each person brings value to the table. If you learn to
someone else’s project. Remember, we are all busy. You appreciate the individual contributions of each team
certainly shouldn’t need to (or be expected to) drop what member and can step back to see how they fit into
you’re working on to help someone else at that minute, but the team’s bigger overall picture, everyone will
you should offer a reasonable date or time by which you be working together more effectively and
will have an answer, an alternative or be available to work building a more productive team.
with the person. And stick to your deadline.

3 – Improve Your Communication Skills
This means both talking and listening. Be sure people
understand what you’re trying to say. If you’re not certain,
ask – but be sure to do it in a way that is positive and
not insulting. Saying, “I’m not sure if I was being clear
in the way I presented that, could you tell me what your
understanding is?” will likely get you more respect and
long-term cooperation than using an attacking style such
as, “You look confused. Are you not getting this?”
As for the listening side, aside from the obvious making a
conscious effort to really “hear” what’s being said rather
than planning your response to what’s being said, be sure
to ask people for input, and really absorb what they’re
telling you. And look directly at the person speaking so you
convey the message that what they’re saying is important.
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