by Dionne Mahaffey

Created on: June 26, 2009

10 Tips for Being a Team Player

It's sounds easy, but it's actually an art to be an effective team player. It's also a skill you can't afford to overlook.
More and more, work is becoming a series of projects, and employers are looking for talent that can adapt to ever-shifting sets of co-workers and clients in accomplishing results.

Here's how you can succeed:

1. Recognize what's really at stake. Getting the job done is important. Getting it done without drama among members is the real agenda.

2. Dive in. Get to know your colleagues. Be engaged. Hanging back won't help the group achieve its goal.

3. Keep up. Your team involvement is probably in addition to your "regular" duties. Don't neglect team communications - e-mails, meetings, opportunities to provide input.

4. Listen, but reciprocate by adding to the conversation. Don't labor over crafting a profound statement to share; remember that it's the give-and-take that will create winning results. A quick observation may be just what's needed to facilitate important progress.

5. Resist the urge to react emotionally. It may be your ego - rather than the merit or lack thereof - of an idea, that's got you itching to diss a suggestion.

6. Do ask questions to clarify; don't aim to embarrass a colleague or trash her idea. Remember that you're seeking solutions - and learning from others who have different expertise than you do.

7. Don't be derailed by differences. Conflict is part of the process and necessary for a strong result. Do steer the group back on course with goals if it's drifting or devolving into needlessly off-point discussion. Aim to make the group look good by pointing out that diverse ideas will add up to an outcome everyone will feel they've helped shape.

8. Embrace the challenges. Got an impossible deadline? Thrown a last-minute curveball? These can help you bond as a group. Go ahead and vent, but be loyal to your teammates and assert your confidence that together you'll prevail.

9. Don't neglect the actual work. As the collaboration proceeds, the spreadsheets and reports have to get done. Roll up your sleeves and do your part.

10. Spread the word about what a great team you're on. Toss in tidbits about how you (collectively) navigated some tricky challenges, but came up with some creative ideas. You'll inspire your teammates to do the same, and management will notice you're not only been a politically astute diplomat, but have helped bring out the best in others.

And isn't that the true measure of leadership talent?

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