What Makes You a Good Team Player?

Work, or even in life, a team plays a major role in it. Some are great at team work, but some aren’t as. But as humans are a social animal, one must collaborate with others to accomplish something big. Yes a few of us might be able to do everything by ourselves, but that is very rare. In this article, we will explore what you can do to be a good team player to help your team, in a general way, not considering your team goal or expertise. I suggest team leaders or managers to give this article a read as they create the atmosphere of the team.

Be a supporter

A good team player thinks of team victory first. Personal play comes after the result. The team needs to win first, before anything else. If you want the glory, or other people’s fame frustrates you, you need to think first of how you can support the team.

Praise others

No one hates good praise. I assume you are the same. So, if someone does something for you, or you find out someone helped you in something, give them praise. It could be specific, but doesn’t need to; just a simple “thank you, that helped a lot” makes others feel warm and cozy.  And as strange as it might sound, that makes a team thrive.

Know who to count on

Do you know who to ask for help when you face a difficult job or problem? Do you know who to count on when you need a solution? Understanding individual strengths helps you understand your team even better. Don’t forget, at the same time, to share with the team what your strengths are. If you find something you can do, raise your hand for it.

Don’t try to do everything yourself

A good team player never works alone. They can ask for help when they need it, and don’t hesitate to or feel embarrassed to do so. Asking for help, checking on something not only helps your work flow smoothly, but also is a way to share your work; where you are at currently, what you’ve done, and where you want to be in the future.