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How to make the most out of being a team player
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Team interaction is highly important to drive productivity and collaboration. How you engage within a group setting can drive the success or failure of a project. The following will provide you with information about how you can contribute to a constructive and fulfilling team dynamic.
Individual Contributions: Indeed the team manager is accountable for establishing and measuring team performance; but all of the members of a team are an integral part of driving success within the business environment. I am sure most of you are accustomed to working within a group; you know then the value of how your individual contribution raises the performance of the entire group. In an effort to get the work done you need to be flexible. While you might not see eye to eye on all business matters, adding value within the team requires that you be able to evaluate situations from the perspectives of others.
Team Meetings: How often have you attended a meeting and just shown up as an attendee. Sure you bring a pad of paper and a pen – just in case you might be required to write something down. BUT, you are there as a spectator. Want to contribute as a true team player? Come prepared to make the meeting effective. You need to be an active participant. It is not only the responsibility of the team leader, but of the group to ensure that ownership is taken. Observe the interactions among the team members, contribute to the content – add value through suggestions and open dialogue. This will improve your presence and your value.
Team Focus: It is important to create synergistic partnerships among the team members so they remain focused and driven toward completing the work. Establishing a cohesive process will ensure smooth sailing while the project is underway. Remember the part above about team meetings? Meetings that add value – where people come away with an action plan – an agreed-upon action plan will facilitate continuity. When there is dissention and people feel like they don’t have a voice, team collaboration suffers. You want to have a productive and fully functional team where the entire team is responsible and accountable for ongoing success. Accordingly, a balance must be found between the relationships and the ongoing tasks. The team must be respectful and behave in a manner that encourages participation.
Team Roles: In an effort to ensure harmony and productivity consider giving each member of the team a role. Select one person to organize the group and help keep you all on track. This person should be able to bring the group together when things seem to be getting out of hand. This person should be good at gaining consensus to allow you to reach a decision. Select another member to define the milestones and corresponding team members to work on achievement of individual projects. Choose another member of the team to serve as a mediator when differences arise. Obviously, this person should be able to review the project from an overarching perspective and maintain objectivity. You will need the various members of the team to take the initiative to ensure that you get the project started, maintain momentum, review timelines and deliverables, and address issues as they arise. Select individuals to monitor these various things to create consistency while you move forward to ensure your achieve the goal of your agenda.
Make sure you recognize the efforts of your team and give praise accordingly. Invest in the team; reward performance and motivate the group through positive feedback. You will reap the benefits in more ways than one!
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Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of ResumesDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
ResumesDoneWrite.Blogspot.com
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