Be A Team Player

Be a team player at work to gain a positive reputation. Management notices a team player who is an asset to the organization. If you can work well with others to get the job done, you will look good when it comes time for promotions and plum assignments. Follow this strategy to be a team player:

1. Listen well. To be a team player, you must actively listen. You can learn a lot from others. Listen carefully for the ideas and concerns of your fellow team members. Ask them to clarify anything that is unclear. Repeat what they've said to make sure you heard it right.
2. Speak up. You have a duty as a team player to say what you think. Active team members make sure their ideas are heard. Effective team members don't hold back when it comes to communicating what they think about the problem at hand. You have some expertise to contribute, so make sure to do so.
3. Keep your eye on the goal. Be a team player by knowing what the goal is and stay focused on it. Help others stay on track, too, by steering conversations back to the current work. Think of your goal as the bullseye. You can dance all around it, but always come back to it.
4. Be flexible and creative. A team player knows and accepts that working with others is rarely a straight and simple path. Be a team player who can accept changing ideas and work conditions. Expect things to change so you don't stress out or freak out when they do.
5. Respect others on the team. If you disagree, you still need to listen. If someone is being obnoxious, you still need to find positives about that person. Avoid talking someone down behind their back. Don't burn bridges. Be a team player by interacting in a professional, polite manner in your speech and actions.