How to Be a Team Player
Some people think of themselves as team players, but if you were to observe their behavior, you might conclude otherwise. For example, Sharon, who describes herself as a team player, makes a point of, as she put it, “keeping my mouth shut when my teammates are about to make bad decisions. If things go south, it’s on them.” In her view, not disagreeing makes her a team player.
Stan, another self-described team player, listens to teammates’ suggestions but then goes off and does things his own way. Stan thinks listening is a sign of a team player, and it is, but listening and ignoring isn’t.
And Mark, another so-called team player, doesn’t even bother to listen. He cuts off coworkers in midsentence when their ideas appear to conflict with his own. His idea of being a team player is not “wasting time on cockamamie ideas” (his words), even though he hasn’t taken the time to understand the reasoning behind those ideas.
It’s not surprising that Sharon, Stan, and Mark view themselves as team players. All three are technically savvy. All three are hard workers and strong contributors. But these traits alone don’t make someone a team player.
Teamwork, after all, is the process of working together to achieve a shared goal. Team players work in collaboration with their teammates to solve problems. They consciously strive to get along with others and are willing to compromise, even if sometimes grudgingly. They don’t demand that all their ideas get a thumbs up; in fact, they understand that some of their ideas won’t be used.
If you want others to view you as a team player, you have to avoid habitually interrupting or insisting on having everything your way. You have to be willing to consider ideas from others without disputing, dissecting, or debating every point. It’s fine to disagree—you can hardly be expected to agree with every idea your coworkers have—but if you’re truly a team player, you listen first and speak second. When you do speak, you express your thoughts respectfully. Team members who treat each other with respect even if they don’t see eye to eye on every issue can still function as team players in getting the job done.
Even though their behavior suggested otherwise, Sharon, Stan, and Mark all want their teams to be successful. But they need to learn that there’s more to being a team player than being technically sharp and meeting deadlines. Are you a team player?
