How to Be an Effective Team Player

Contribute to the effort of your work team.

Whether it be for work, school, sports or other activities, teamwork is important to success. Some people know how to function in a group or team more effectively than others, contributing to the overall benefit of the team. To be an effective team player, don't make excuses or complain, and don't let negativity get you down. Showing your enthusiasm for the goals, mission and vision of the team helps motivate other team members to jump on board, increasing the chance of a successful outcome.

Instructions

1. Be candid and honest with other team members and with supervisors. If something isn't working well, be forthright. Also, clearly communicate important and worthwhile information important to the goals of the team. Share information freely among group and team members so everyone is operating on the same wavelength.

2. Always meet your deadlines. It is imperative that you keep in mind others are relying on you to complete your part of a group project.

3. Adapt quickly to changes, and offer to adjust your schedule or work habits if it benefits the overall team. Effective team players often are agents and champions of change and can rally the team to accept changes and keep making progress.

4. Appreciate the work styles of others so you know which team members are best suited for particular tasks in order to more efficiently and effectively meet the broader goals of the group, team or organization. Be open to working with people who may approach things differently than you do.

5. Avoid group and team politics, and come to the table with a good attitude. Don't let yourself get distracted by small disagreements or petty issues that aren't important to the team's overall mission, vision and goals. Team players are also good negotiators. By developing good diplomatic negotiating skills, you can effectively diffuse what might be a tense situation and turn it into a win-win situation for all involved.

6. Be cooperative, not competitive, with other members of the team.

7. Be a good listener. Team members who genuinely and effectively listen to one another can more efficiently come together to work toward achieving team goals. Be patient and respectful of what other team members have to say.

References

• Mind Tools: How to Be a Good Team Player