All Together Now
Are YOU an effective team member?
by Alexandra Mayzler
TWEENS
& TEENS News September 2007
MYou’ve heard the catchphrase before:
There is no “I” in team. From
class projects to sports teams, group involvement
demands being a good team member. But what
exactly does that mean and how do you avoid
common blunders of the group experience?
Before starting that collective science project
or stepping foot on the ball field with your
teammates, read on to discover what you can
do to be a good team member and what steps
the group should take to perform well.
First, let’s talk about becoming a strong
team player.
Be reliable.
A good team member is someone who others can
count on. Demonstrate reliability by getting
your share of the work done in a timely manner
and meeting commitments. Complete assignments
and be consistent. Don’t assume that
other team members are going to pick up where
you slack off.
Communicate positively.
Letting the team know your thoughts and ideas
is essential. Don’t shy away from contributing
to the group. Instead, share information and
knowledge. If you have a good idea, explain
it in a positive manner. Avoid putting anyone
else down by insulting his or her ideas. Treat
your fellow group members with consideration
and respect.
Listen up.
Remember to listen first and speak second.
This allows you to have an effective and balanced
discussion with your team members. Good listeners
do wonders to enhance group dynamics. Every
team needs a thoughtful member who will listen
to all ideas and viewpoints without arguing.
Once you’ve listened to the other members,
you can express your thoughts in a meaningful
way.
Participate actively.
Don’t just show up to a meeting. Come
prepared, listen carefully and speak up during
discussions. Take initiative to help move
the project along and volunteer for assignments.
Have a “can-do” attitude.
Roll with the punches.
Working in a team requires you to compromise
and cooperate. Realize that even if you are
set on doing something a certain way, you
may have to meet another team member half
way. Be flexible to other opinions. Figure
out unique ways to collaborate on various
tasks, solve problems and complete assignments.
If a teammate needs support, then offer a
helping hand.
Problem solve.
No group experience is void of a few rough
patches. It is important to have a team member
who is willing to deal with problems. Good
problem-solvers act to find solutions to problems—
and they don’t procrastinate or place
blame on others.
Put your best foot forward.
Care about the team and the outcome of your
joint work. Put in effort and expect everyone
else to do the same. Make sure to look at
the bigger picture of the project and not
just your piece of the puzzle. Be committed
to the team and support the other members.
Good team players participate and motivate.
Now that you know what it takes to be a good
team member, let’s take a look at steps
everyone should take to work well as a group.
Get to know your group.
Before getting down to business, spend some
time getting to know your group members. Learn
something specific about each person in the
group and discuss individual strengths and
weaknesses. By creating a friendly atmosphere
that breeds team spirit, all group members
feel encouraged to do their best.
Know the ground rules.
It’s important for the group to establish
guidelines. Volunteer to write down the group’s
ground rules. These should include rules on
communicating, sharing tasks, and meeting
requirements and deadlines.
Understand each task.
Having a clear and united understanding of
goals is important. For a couple of minutes
during an introductory group meeting, each
member should independently write down objectives
of the project. Then compare notes and agree
on the main goal you are working toward together.
Designate roles.
Once the group has identified the goal, spend
time on allocating responsibilities. Because
the group has already had the “get to
know you” chat, each member should feel
comfortable selecting a role. Make sure that
people’s strengths and weaknesses are
considered when roles are assigned. A timid
group member shouldn’t be forced to
be the group leader.
Develop a plan.
After roles are chosen, formulate a plan.
Divide the tasks based on roles. Next, create
a schedule for upcoming meetings and set goals
for each meeting. Discuss ways that the group
will communicate. Don’t opt for e-mail
if someone in the group lacks computer access.
Resolve disagreements.
Not all group projects are smooth sailing.
If a problem occurs, don’t ignore it.
Rather, mention the conflict at a meeting.
Find out what is causing the problem and discuss
possible solutions with all the team members
simultaneously. Encourage all group members
to communicate their thoughts.
Alexandra Mayzler is the president and
founder of Thinking Caps Tutoring, which offers
one-to-one tutoring, test preparation and
skill building. For more information, visit
www.thinkingcapstutoring.com.
