Whether you are a part of a big organization or small, there comes a time you realize that you cannot do it all by yourself. You are hard-working and micromanage from time to time as you don’t like it when other people are in control of decisions in which you are involved. Being a team player is one aspect of your personality that you need to improve upon as you are still coming to terms with the understanding that what is good for the team is good for you as well.
If you want to be a terrific team player, you need to understand the pace of everyone who is part of the team. All the team members have a skill that they are better at than others and it is in your best interest that you recognize their strength and weakness as when the team is under pressure you can root for the best person to take care of the problem even if you are not making the decision.
There are different types of team members in every organization, and it is up to you to identify what they are good at. Organizing their strengths and weaknesses will go a long way in helping you share the right problem with the right person, thus saving you time.
Here are some skills to consider:
#1. Creative Thinkers
Not everyone has a great imagination, and all the ideas which are well implemented are great ideas. There are members of the team who consider more things while thinking, thus coming with better plans. You can sort the people out with great thought process so that you know who to bank upon when things are to be done in a new way with a new plan.
#2. Hard workers
A lot of people get bored when they do a particular thing day in and day out. They are completely worn out as repeated work saps their enthusiasm. On the other hand, there are ones who never get tired of doing the same chore with the same amount of energy they did before. Identify the members who are rich in this trait so that you know who to call upon when the deadline is looking you right in the face.
#3. The Diplomats
Every team has differences, and when tempers flare, you can easily get in the line of fire. Identifying the ones on your team who can disarm the anger of your colleagues and calm the situation are an asset which most people don’t get. The tact with which they deal helps prevent recklessness from employees when the pressure gets to them.
#4. Unbiased Evaluator
Within the team, everyone will have a soft spot for someone or the other and this can cloud their judgment. They will choose the one they like and not choose the one whose work is better as they don’t want to spoil the relationship they share. This can doom the team, so it is best to appoint evaluators who can give an opinion on the work alone.
Qualities that will help your team realize you are a team player are:
#1. Positive Attitude
When things are not going well, despair knows that it’s an invitation. Your team members can fall apart when they feel suppressed under pressure and take on a more negative outlook. This can ruin their perspective on purpose and meaning which reflects the quality of their work. You need to incorporate that positive energy in them from time to time so that they don’t go over the edge and feel lost. It is a challenging task which only a few can master.
#2. Being Objective
It has been the case so many times when people feel they are being criticized for being people and not their work. It’s a dilemma as old as the time where care for one what does affects the ability to take someone else’s opinion on it without making it solely about the work. This approach must extend to all of your teammates including you. The best way to demonstrate it would be to show how you react when one of your colleagues criticize you and your reaction of acknowledgment will say it all.
#3. Discipline
There is a time for work, and there is a time for play. This age-old saying is true in every sense of the word. Disciplined workers are not only more efficient; they are better equipped to take on new tasks without getting worried. This time management must be abided by all members of the team with anyone who strays from it paying a small penalty of working overtime including you.
#4. Toe The Line
There is a very thin line between active participation and impinging on a person’s freedom. If you are not a part of your team members activities, they may soon start to feel alienated and develop a bad attitude towards you. On the other hand, if you constantly pester them about something, they will feel that you are invading their professional space. The best way of conduct is just to ask what your team member is doing today and make a short remark about their current project. This will let them know you are interested in their work and trust their capability.
#5. Remind Them That Their Work Elevates Their Soul
It is very easy to get lost in the fog of information, and you will encounter team-mates who despite their best efforts are in over their head. This type of problem needs to be tackled very delicately as they are asking themselves the question which does not have an answer. The question which asks you to examine your existence is one which philosophers throughout history have tried to get away from but instead submitted to it as their head disguised the same question in different ways. Words of encouragement that tell your teammates that they must keep themselves in good condition and their work are valued, it contributes to the good of the society are all phrases which help them feel they possess self-worth. This will keep away the thoughts that tell them their life has no value and what they are doing is just something already done by men before them.
#6. Personalize
At the end of the day, they need to go back home with the knowledge that you too, like them, are human and your head gets messed up just like theirs. Confronting flaws and confessing mistakes in each other will surely let your team-mates know that you have been giving them all this support only because you need it from them just as much as they need it from you.
Let us know what all you think can make you a better team player. Make your comments below.
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