by Mark Butler

Created on: February 01, 2010

Being part of a team means being part of something that is bigger than you as a person.  It means getting the job done and learning and growing at the same time.  It also means hard work!  Why it being on a team hard work?  Because doing something by and for your self is easy.  Do for others and having them rely on you as you rely on them can be tough.  You have to trust and in turn be trusted. 

Keep in mind that you do not have to be the team leader in order to contribute to the success of a team.  Each member of a team plays a role and as you learn and grow in the ways of teams you too will have the opportunity to take a leadership role.  

So how do you master being part of a team?

1.  Be respectful of others and the team leader.  Just as you want to be respected, so do your team mates.  This means being honest with them just as you would want them to honest with you.

2.  Be responsible for your actions and make sure you deliver the things that are asked of you.  If it looks like you will have trouble, ask for help!  Remember that others are relying on you and if your team gets to a point where they need your input or product and you can’t deliver then the whole team look badly and it may not bode well for the larger organization.

3.  Offer help to others.  Many times most people will be able to handle their task on their own but there are times when it is bigger than a 1 person job.  If you do help, don’t try to grab the glory!  If you got help on a tough part, share the praise but be willing to take the heat if it isn’t quite right.  In either case, your co-worker will know the real deal and appreciate you more for it.

4.  Offer praise to good performers and make sure their boss hears about it.  All too often all anybody ever does is complain, so imagine the impact you will have on the organization as a whole or on the team if you praise others good deeds and performance. 

5.  Show the new person the ropes and how things are done.  Make sure you do this right and you will have an ally for life because they will always remember how well you treated them.

6.  Never laugh at another’s misfortune or wrong answer.  Instead, offer help, guidance or direction depending on the situation.  At the same time, never talk about anyone’s personal or professional business performance behind their back.  When you do, people will realize that you will do the same to them and if you don’t your reputation will reflect your actions.

7.  Set the example!  If you are waking down the hallway, pick up that piece of trash instead of calling or waiting for the cleaning crew.  Once you walk past it you have set another type of example and you are better than that!

8.  Offer to take the hard job from time to time.  This shows that you are willing to do whatever it takes.

In the overall scheme of things you need to keep in mind that you don’t need to be a formal member of a team to be a good team player.  In being a good team player you are helping a small part of your organization do a better job and by doing so you are making the team leader look good.  This will also make you look good and could lead to greater opportunities.  Some people will complain about the occasional team leader who hogs the spot light but keep this in mind when it is your team to lead.  You may get praised by one of the senior executives in your organization and if so, share the credit.  Keep in mind that a rising tide lifts all boats.

Good luck on that next team project!

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