Teamwork

As the saying goes. “There is no ‘I’ in team.” There are, however, a number of people who
must come together to create a cohesive unit working towards a common goal. If this isn’t
the case, a team will likely find itself facing failure.
When you are in a team situation, your contributions, actions and reactions will matter.
The better you handle yourself, the stronger your team will become. Whether you’re a
manager leading a team or one of its members, creating a successful team is as much your
responsibility as it is everyone else’s.
Here are some tips that can help you become a productive, vital part of a team:
1. Play to your strengths
Your strengths, skills and abilities are the commodities you bring to your team. Identify
them and share what you do best. Ideally, your team will include a number of people with
different strengths. It will then become much easier to compensate for any weaknesses.
2. Be honest about your weaknesses
Identifying and understanding your weaknesses will help you become a stronger, more
valuable team member. Other team members will ideally be poised to help on issues
that are not best suited to your abilities. By understanding your weaknesses, you can
learn to accept this help without feeling threatened. Essentially, it can make you a better
team player.
3. Communicate clearly
Communication is critical for any successful team. If a team is going to work well together,
it’s essential to have clear, concise lines of communication. To do your part, take steps
to master some of the keys to successful communication.
4. Don’t be afraid to delegate or share work
It’s often the case in teams that one or two key members carry the load. But in highly
functional teams, every member effectively shares work and contributes to overall
success. Tasks must be delegated appropriately based on strengths and weaknesses.
5. Do not try to grab the limelight
Just like in sports, it takes every member performing well to bring home a win. Keep this
in mind and try to focus on the task at hand and the role you play in making it happen.
The limelight will shine on the entire team – you included – if you handle your tasks
efficiently.
While the saying goes, there is no ‘I’ in team, this is not entirely true. When every individual
learns how to work for the good of the team, everyone wins. The process starts with you.