“Plays well with others:” How to be a Team Player
You’ve been to school. You may have played sports, participated in a scouting organization, or joined a club. Regardless, it is likely that you have had experiences when you’ve had to work with others to get a job done – whether it was on the basketball court, in a science lab, or on a camping trip.
The lessons learned in these scenarios about being part of a team carry over to your hourly job.
In the vast majority of jobs, you’ll find yourself working alongside other people, and depending on one another not only for success at work, but also for a measure of happiness at work. Team members who function well together are happier in their jobs. No one wants to go into a work environment where there is disagreement, strife, power plays, or pettiness.
With that in mind, here are a few ways to ensure that you’ll be “playing well with others” in the workplace:
1. Have an open mind – your team will likely be comprised of all different personalities and types of people. Be ready to cooperate with all of them (remember – you can work effectively with someone without being their best friend).
2. Stay away from the troublemakers. Every group has members who seek out conflict, gossip, or dwell on petty things. Don’t get embroiled in the nonsense. Frankly, life is too short.
3. When a problem or conflict does present itself, be “the problem solver.” Instead of griping, take a different approach by asking, “what can we do to make this customer happy?” or “what can we do to improve this situation the next time it comes up?” (Your boss will notice and appreciate your attitude.)
4. Communicate clearly. When working as part of a team, I cannot emphasize this enough. Clear communication minimizes conflict and maximizes people’s ability to cooperate.
5. Listen. Whenever you work with others, it is important to listen to their ideas, suggestions, and points of view. If nothing else, it makes them feel validated, and that will lead to better cooperation. The more a team can work together, brainstorm ideas, and coordinate their duties, the more effective the company as a whole will be.
So the next time you set off for work, think of these five tips. Try just one of them for starters, and see how you feel – did anyone notice? What was their reaction? Being an effective team player is a learned skill that can be honed and improved over time. It is also a key element to success at work.