About a month or so ago some one told me I was not a team player. I had to sit and think on this one for a long time. Had to think is this true, am I really not a team player? I sat and reflected on this and this is what I have deduced from all the things…. all the angles I could look at in regards to their statement. The short answer is that this is a false accusation. I am a team player. We are all team players. I had to realize this was simply a gas lighting statement made to make myself feel less than worthy. And indeed I felt that way for a while. But not after inner reflection and subsequent realizations.
What makes a good team player? First and foremost a good team, a good leader, and a shared vision. A good team works together to make the team successful. The following are all elements of a good team.
- Communication:
Effective communication is the most important part of teamwork and involves consistently updating each person and never assuming that everyone has the same information. Being a good communicator also means being a good listener. By listening to your colleagues you show them respect, which is an essential trust-building method. Offering encouragement also goes a long way to getting the best out of team members. Collaborating and being open to new ideas are also essential ingredients for a harmonious team environment. - Delegation:
Teams that work well together understand the strengths and weaknesses of each team member. One of the benefits of strong teamwork is that team leaders and members are adept at identifying all aspects of a project and allocating tasks to the most appropriate team members. - Efficiency:
A strong and cohesive team develops systems that allow them to collaborate efficiently to complete tasks in a timely manner. Through working together, colleagues will be aware of their own capabilities and the capabilities of the group in general, and can organise the workload accordingly. - Ideas:
When a team works well together, colleagues feel more comfortable offering suggestions and ideas. A respectful and trusting team environment will not only enable colleagues to think more creatively, but will lead to more productive and collaborative brainstorming sessions. - Support:
All workplaces provide challenges, but having a strong team environment in place can act as a support mechanism for staff members. They can help each other improve their own performance as well as working together toward improving their professional development. Building bonds on trust and reliance on each other can be extremely important when facing a particularly difficult challenge or if the group is forced to deal with the loss of a team member while continuing to maintain productivity.
So after my reflections I realized on so many levels the team I was supposed to be part of failed to communicate, failed to support, failed to share vision, leaders failed to lead. WHY? personal dynamics, outside influences other factors who knows. Did I change over the years, did I possibly lose faith in their leadership abilities? I quite possibly did. Does this make me not a team player. Possibly for their team but that in no way change the fact I am a team player, for the right team.