3 Ways to be a Better Team Player

3 Ways to be a Better Team Player

1. Be enthusiastic
Mid-19th century poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success”. To be a great team player, enthusiasm must be at the core of our relationships with members of our team. Enthusiasm can be shown through our body language, our tone of voice and our choice of words. Enthusiasm is contagious therefore we must take care with what we say, how we speak, how we stand and ensure that our presence has a positive impact on others.

Try this: For those who work Monday to Friday from 9am till 5pm, you will probably be familiar with that Monday morning feeling or at the very least you’ve heard others moan about the inevitable start of a new working week. Try embracing Monday mornings with positivity and energy. Show members of your team your excitement about new challenges and wish others a successful week. Smile as you bounce in your step.

2. Selfless assistance
Despite having our sights set on our personal goals and targets, there is tremendous satisfaction in helping others reach theirs. Learning about other people’s projects, assignments etc, and offering our support builds bridges and develops a culture of togetherness. Our offer of assistance should not be made with the intention of receiving something in return. Trust is created when support is offered selflessly.

Try this: Speak to a colleague from another department. Show an interest in what your colleague is currently working on. Offer your support and expertise that as a result will help him/her achieve a task. Your commitment does not have to be grand; nothing is too big or too small. Your offer of support should not invade a colleagues territory and your impact should add value rather than act as a substitute for what you may consider to be a bad idea.

3. Follow-through
Our enthusiasm and verbal commitment of support means nothing if we do not or cannot follow through with action. Where our intentions create trust, lack of execution will shatter it. Poor follow-through will result in the people around us to be sceptic about the quality of our character. To be a great team player, our actions and follow-through should match what we say and believe.

Try this: Consider how your strengths can have a positive impact on someone else’s time or product. Make a small offer that you know you can execute and you know will help someone else. Your effort and quality of work should be exemplary. Expect nothing in return and enjoy how your knowledge and skills can help others achieve.