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[B310]Being A Team Player

by Michael Hehn, Mic

Team players are usually the people that are known for sacrifice, sharing, and hard work. Does this sound like a reputation you'd like to have? Many strive to be a team player in the work place, but it takes more than just having a desire, it takes hard work. One piece of advice from a father figure of mine that embodies the concept of team work that he used to say to me was, "Usually doing the right thing is the harder thing to do in life". Being a team player often involves doing the right thing by not always having your self benefit in mind. This article looks at several key principals to being a team player.

To begin being a team player look at the team you are on and define the team goals. Often these goals will differ from your own personal goals. Be sure to keep the team's goals first on your list of priorities. Once you identify the team goals think about the best way you can contribute to the team by reaching these goals. Try to thing about reaching goals as absolute destination, rather than just a possibility. That is to say, look at meeting team goals as something that will happen, not something that can happen. With this attitude being a team player will become a reality.

Team players must recognize their individual strengths in order to provide the team with something useful. If you have a great ability to work with numbers, nominate yourself the math person, and try to work on all aspects of the project that deals with math. conversely if you're one that is not good at something, be sure to make that known to the team. If you are shy and introverted, and the team wants to make you the sales person for the group, tell them that might not be a good idea. By establishing your strengths in the beginning one puts themselves in a better position to excel at a task for the team in the end.

Always try to help out others in need within your team. Often time's team members will become so engulfed in their own assignments that they fail to realize others are struggling. If one has the attitude that they will only do what they're being paid to do, then they may only achieve so much for the team. If one applies the attitude of helping a brother or sister in need, the team can build and succeed upon such efforts.

The old cliche' that teams are only as strong as their weakest member holds true in today's work environment. By defining goals, recognizing strengths, and helping others you will give your team a better opportunity of having no weak members what so ever.

You may have heard such comments from your supervisors, trainers or other employees that “We function as a team”. “It is not important that one member of the team does not…. or does not complete the sale… another member of the team will complete and finish the action or event.”

You may be perplexed as to what this means. You may even be the “lone wolf” who prefers to work on their own and “get the job done“.

Where did these concepts of “team players “in the workplace come into play, where did they originate and how does it all fit it so that I can understand the rules “and thus play the game” in order to keep my job? As well what are the benefits of this style of management in the workplace to both me and my employer? …..

The availability of management information to all employees , the rapid rate of technological advances and the competitive pressure of globalization have combined to result in unpredictable staffing needs and fundamental shifts in the working structures of current companies. The shift is away from management directed systems and towards “flat” team directed systems that increase each individual's responsibilities.

Companies are using a skilled core group of leaders to develop strategies to manage work teams that perform the design, production, marketing and servicing tasks. Instead of middle managers, technology now transfers information between core groups and work teams.

Technology involving group think and sharing was first popularized by products such as “Lotus Notes”. It used to be that management directives were handed down from the top by “middle managers” whose job was to portray and spread information up and down the chain.

It used to take approximately 7 to 8 years to design a car in the United States. Everything was done on paper and had to physically hand travel up and down the chain of command, awaiting vital authorizations. Thanks to the modern communications afforded by such software and the internal communication it now takes only in the range of a year to a year and a half to design new cars. However middle management with its perks and privileges will go down kicking and screaming.

Flatter, leaner organizations respond more efficiently to competitive pressures and create a need for flexible, problem – solving team leaders.

Working in team's results in benefits for both team members and the organization in which they work. These benefits include: collaboration, communication. More efficient application of resources, talents and strengths resulting in sounder decision and solutions that can be made simultaneously.

Collaboration since people work together well and in the end will support each other because they identify with the “team.”

Communication since team members realize the importance of passing on the information members need to operate more efficiently and effectively.

Teams result in the more efficient application of resources, talents and strengths since team members tend to apply themselves willingly. When one member of the group lacks certain knowledge and competence another is there to instantly fill the gap.

As a result of the increased input and shared expertise sound decisions and solutions are made almost instantly. Due to the shared expertise and communication issues and problems that never seem to get resolved now get immediate resolution.

Lastly since the team members as a result take pride in the effort and cohesion of the team it ensures that each member gets what he or she needs and in the end the result whether it be a project, product or service is turned out top quality.

Article Source : Hunting Land In Texas

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Both Michael Hehn & S. Z. Stevens are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Michael Hehn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Online Business, Careers and Job Hunting and Gift Ideas. For more information about team building topics, visit:. Michael Hehn's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.

S. Z. Stevens has sinced written about articles on various topics from Careers and Job Hunting, Cover Letter and Careers and Job Hunting. Shaun Stevens Employment Trainer Winnipeg Job Shark call_kirk@hotmail.com . S. Z. Stevens's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.