To be an effective team player you need to develop personal qualities, as well as be involved in shared group performance. By perfecting your own unique set of skills, knowledge and personal qualities, you can make a significant contribution to the whole team and reap satisfaction for your effort. Committing to your own development will give you motivation, and help you become a good role model.
Take responsibility for the position you 'play' and, likewise, respect those of others.
DEVELOP INNER QUALITIES
Strengths in these qualities will enable you to work more successfully
as part of a team:
- Encourager - build confidence of others
- Role model - high standards of practice
- Relationships - know yourself and have good understanding of others
- Confidence - in communication and the courage to pursue action
- Responsibility - take a participative role
- Individuality - develop your style of work
- Initiative - anticipate situations and needs
- Honesty and integrity - others trust you and want to work with you.
- Flexibility - adapt to changing situations
THE SKILLS OF TEAM PLAY
An effective team has qualities that complement and strengthen the
abilities of individuals, as well as the group, and enable:
- Understanding of the mission, aims and objectives of your organisation
- Commitment to high-quality contributions to the aims and objectives
- Co-operation by sharing ideas
- Encouraging individuality in role, but collective strength in
fulfilling objectives
- Developing knowledge and skills acquisition by identifying needs,
supporting and facilitating improved practice
- Sharing responsibility through challenges
- Anticipating the potential for conflict
- Acknowledging effort and achievement
- Taking a united approach to high-quality practice that can be open to
scrutiny
- Aiming for, and achieving, high standards
CAREER TIPS
A good team spirit will enable you to:
- Reflect on your own style of participation
- Respect the contributions of others
- Feel supported in your work
- Identify ways to sustain a commitment to development
- Spend time reviewing with the whole team
- Encourage playing to people's strengths
- Be a reliable and trusted member of a team
- Understand the dynamics in teams, on to which you can build leadership
qualities
- Fit more comfortably into a new team
Tina Jefferies, of the Red Space Company, specialises in developing teams with performance workshops and coaching programmes. Visit www.redspacecompany.com.
