How to develop a truly loyal team player

 

WHO IS A TEAM PLAYER?

Many employment ads mention that the successful candidate will be a team player. Employers want employees to be comfortable working as part of a team. It's important for a new employee to fit in with and get along with the other workers in order for the organization to run smoothly in a spirit of cooperation.

A team player is not necessarily liked by everyone, nor does a team player usually like everyone on the team. However, a true team player is an employee that can be counted on to do his or her part of the work and be reliedon to complete tasks and work cooperatively with others. Each team player should know his or her role and how his or her job fits in with the others. No matter what office politics are occurring, each team member must do his or her part.

QUALITIES OF A TEAM PLAYER

If you were choosing team members for a business team in your organization, who would the best team players be? Assuming that people have the right technical skills for the work to be done, what other factors would you use to select your team members, have a look:

DEMONSTRATES RELIABILITY

You can count on a reliable team member who gets work done and does his fair share to work hard and meet commitments. He or she follows through on assignments. Consistency is key. You can count on him or her to deliver good performance all the time, not just some of the time.

COMMUNICATES CONSTRUCTIVELY

Teams need people who speak up and express their thoughts and ideas clearly, directly, honestly, and with respect for others and for the work of the team. That's what it means to communicate constructively. Such a team member does not shy away from making a point but makes it in the best way possible in a positive, confident, and respectful manner.

LISTENS ACTIVELY

Good listeners are essential for teams to function effectively. Teams need team players who can absorb, understand, and consider ideas and points of view from other people

If each person on the team makes a point to treat each member of the team with respect no matter what personal matters or matters of office politics are between them, they can still operate as team players working to get the job done.without debating and arguing every point. Such a team member also can receive criticism without reacting defensively so that meaningful dialogue results.

FUNCTIONS AS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT

Good team players are active participants. They come prepared for team meetings and listen and speak up in discussions. They're fully engaged in the work of the team and do not sit passively on the sidelines. Team members who function as active participants take the initiative to help make things happen, and they volunteer for assignments. Their whole approach is can-do: "What contribution can I make to help the team achieve success?"

SHARES OPENLY AND WILLINGLY

Good team players share. They're willing to share information, knowledge, and experience. They take the initiative to keep other team members informed. Much of the communication within teams takes place informally. Beyond discussion at organized meetings, team members need to feel comfortable talking with one another and passing along important news and information day-to-day information. Good team players are active in this informal sharing. They keep other team members in the loop and share information and expertise that helps get the job done and prevents surprises.

COOPERATES

Cooperation is the act of working with others and acting together to accomplish a job. Effective team players work this way by second nature.

Good team players, despite the differences they may have with other team members concerning style and perspective, figure out ways to work together to solve problems and get work done.

They respond to requests for assistance and take the initiative to offer help.

EXHIBITS FLEXIBILITY

Teams often deal with changing conditions and often create changes themselves. Good team players roll with the punches; they adapt to ever-changing situations.

They don't complain or get stressed out because something new is being tried or some new direction is being set.

In addition, a flexible team member can consider different points of views and compromise when needed. He or she doesn't hold rigidly to a point of view and argue it to death, especially when the team needs to move forward to make a decision or get something done.Strong team players are firm in their thoughts yet open to what others have to offer flexibility at its best.

SHOWS COMMITMENT TO THE TEAM

Strong team players care about their work, the team, and the team's work. They show up every day with this care and commitment up front.

They want to give a good effort, and they want other team members to do the same.

WORKS AS A PROBLEM-SOLVER

Teams, of course, deal with problems. Sometimes, it appears, that's the whole reason why a team is created to address problems. Good team players are willing to deal with all kinds of problems in a solution-oriented manner. They're problem-solvers, not problem-dwellers, problem-blamers, or problem-avoiders.

They don't simply rehash a problem the way problem-dwellers do. They don't look for others to fault, as the blamers do. And they don't put off dealing with issues, the way avoiders do.

Team players get problems out in the open for discussion and then collaborate with others to find solutions and form action plans.

TREATS OTHERS IN A RESPECTFUL AND SUPPORTIVE MANNER

Team players treat fellow team members with courtesy and consideration not just some of the time but consistently. In addition, they show understanding and the appropriate support of other team members to help get the job done.

They don't place conditions on when they'll provide assistance, when they'll choose to listen, and when they'll share information.Good team players also have a sense of humor and know how to have fun (and all teams can use a bit of both), but they don't have fun at someone else's expense. Quite simply, effective team players deal with other people in a professional manner.

WHAT IS A TEAMWORK?

Teamwork is defined as "a joint action by a group of people, in which each person subordinates his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group."

This does not mean that the individual is no longer important; however, it does mean that effective and efficient teamwork goes beyond individual accomplishments.

The most effective teamwork is produced when all the individuals involved harmonize theircontributions and work towards a common goal.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROUP EXERCISE AND A TEAM EXERCISE?

One of the first things that an instructor must recognize is the difference between an individual working as part of a group and an individual working as part of a team.Below is a list of the differences that exists between these categories. After reading through the list, it should be clear what the difference is and which one would be ideal in a classroom and the workplace.

Groups

Members work independently and they often are not working towards the same goal.

Members focus mostly on themselves because they are not involved in the planning of their group's objectives and goals.

Members are given their tasks or told what their duty/job is, and suggestions are rarely welcomed.

Members are very cautious about what they say and are afraid to ask questions. They may not fully understand what is taking place in their group

Members do not trust each other's motives because they do not fully understand the role each member plays in their group.

Members may have a lot to contribute but are held back because of a closed relationship with each member

Members are bothered by differing opinions or disagreements because they consider it a threat. There is no group support to help resolve problems.

Members may or may not participate in group decision-making, and conformity is valued more than positive results.

Teams

Members work interdependently and work towards both personal and team goals, and they understand these goals are accomplished best by mutual support.

Members feel a sense of ownership towards their role in the group because they committed themselves to goals they helped create.

Members collaborate together and use their talent and experience to contribute to the success of the team's objectives.

Members base their success on trust and encourage all members to express their opinions, varying views, and questions.

Members make a conscious effort to be honest, respectful, and listen to every person's point of view.

Members are encouraged to offer their skills and knowledge, and in turn each member is able to contribute to the group's success.

Members see conflict as a part of human nature and they react to it by treating it as an opportunity to hear about new ideas and opinions. Everybody wants to resolve problems constructively.

Members participate equally in decision-making, but each member understands that the leader might need to make the final decision if the team can not come to a consensus agreement.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE TEAM

The following are eight characteristics of effective teams:

1. The team must have a clear goal. Avoid fuzzy, motherhood statements. Team goals should call for a specific performance objective, expressed so concisely that everyone knows when the objective has been met.

2. The team must have a results-driven structure. The team should be allowed to operate in a manner that produces results. It is often best to allow the team to develop the structure.

3. The team must have competent team members. In the education setting this can be taken to mean that the problem given to the team should be one that the members can tackle given their level of knowledge.

4. The team must have unified commitment. This doesn't mean that team members must agree on everything. It means that all individuals must be directing their efforts towards the goal. If an individual's efforts is going purely towards personal goals, then the team will confront this and resolve the problem.

5. The team must have a collaborative climate. It is a climate of trust producedby honest, open, consistent and respectful behavior. With this climate teams perform well...without it, they fail.

6. The team must have high standards that are understood by all. Team members must know what is expected of them individually and collectively. Vague statements such as "positive attitude" and "demonstrated effort" are not good enough.

7. The team must receive external support and encouragement. Encouragement and praise works just as well in motivating teams as it does with individuals.

8. The team must have principled leadership. Teams usually need someone to lead the effort. Team members must know that the team leader has the position because they have good leadership skills and are working for the good of the team. The team members will be less supportive if they feel that the team leader is putting him/herself above the team, achieving personal recognition or otherwise benefiting from the position.

STAGES OF TEAM GROWTH

It is important for employers and employees (the team members) to know that teams don't just form and immediately start working together to accomplish great things. There are actually stages of team growth and teams must be given time to work through the stages and become effective. Team growth can be separated into four stages.

Stage 1: Forming. When a team is forming, members cautiously explore the boundariesof acceptable group behavior. They search for their position within the group and test the leader's guidance. It is normal for little team progress to occur during this stage.

Stage 2: Storming. Storming is probably the most difficult stage for the group. Members often become impatient about the lack of progress, but are still inexperienced with working as a team. Members may argue about the actions they should take because they faced with ideas that are unfamiliar to them and put them outside their comfort zones. Much of their energy is focused on each other instead of achieving the goal.

Stage 3: Norming. During this stage team members accept the team and begin to reconcile differences. Emotional conflict is reduced as relationships become more cooperative. The team is able to concentrate more on their work and start to make significant progress.

Stage 4: Performing. By this stage the team members have discovered and accepted each other's strengths and weaknesses, and learned what their roles are. Members are open and trusting and many good ideas are produced because they are not afraid to offer ideas and suggestions. They are comfortable using decision making tools to evaluate the ideas, prioritize tasks and solve problems. Much is accomplished and team satisfaction and loyalty is high.

Since working as part of a team can improve learning and is a much needed skill in today's workplace, some team exerciseshttps://wa.me/message/ONUZUUV4Q2YGO1 should be included in the classroom. With well planned out tasks, careful guidance, and close observation, instructors can make team exercises extremely valuable learning experiences.

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