Be the Team Member Everyone Loves

Whether you are a mid-level developer, a senior designer, a junior quality assurance officer, or even a team leader, if you don’t know how to be a good team member, there is a high chance that you won’t succeed professionally. Here, we will teach you everything you need to know about becoming a great team member.

How to Be a Good Team Member

Achieving goals in a workplace requires collaboration with other team members. It doesn’t only enhance your work experience but also teaches you new techniques and refines existing skills. Here are some tips and tricks on how to be a good team member.

Use Your Strengths

Every person within a professional workplace has something valuable to offer. While you might be good at coding, your colleagues might have better design and problem-solving skills. To become a part of a team, you need to find a position (role) that gives you a chance to do an excellent job. Plus, on the bright side, it is actually more satisfying, easier, and fun to do tasks that you excel in.

With a belief that two or more brains are better than one, teams are usually brought together to handle issues that are challenging, if not impossible. Primarily because when people work together, the creative level is comparatively higher, and they get a chance to tap into one another’s strengths, leading to increased inspiration and productivity.

Be a Good Communicator

If you have worked with a team before, you might know the importance of active listening. During a team meeting, make sure to participate in the discussion and share information that you believe can help your team members to complete tasks. This is because sitting silently during a meeting creates a negative vibe which ultimately results in damaging the overall decorum of the workplace. Even if you have nothing to contribute, say something to support the team.

On the other hand, if you have an alternative suggestion that might be better, then discuss it with the team as, you never know, this may be the inspiration that they are looking for. Whether you are challenging a colleague’s opinion or supporting the team, be sure to have a positive and respectful attitude.

Understand the Team’s Objectives

Ensuring all team members are on the same page is the key to building strong teams. To do this, every individual must make sure that they understand the project objectives perfectly. If you don’t, ask the following questions:

• What is the goal of the project?
• What is the objective of this meeting?
• What is our budget?
• What are our roles and responsibilities?
• What is the work breakdown structure?
• What is our deadline?

Note: Great team players never shy away from challenges and are always open to communication that respectfully solves problems.

Stay Flexible

A good team player is someone who has a flexible work style. If you already have experience in the field, you might already know that during a project, things might change quickly; people might leave, the budget may increase or decrease, or the goals might be refined. In all cases, effective team players are those who are flexible enough to adapt to the change instead of fighting it. This not only saves time and energy but money as well.

Be Reliable

A great team member is someone that people can count on. A person who doesn’t break promises and strives to help colleagues during a problem. People don’t like individuals who promise one thing and do the exact opposite. Having a reliable and trusting nature helps in creating a strong bond between team members and hence improves the overall work quality.

The Best Team Player

A true team player at work is someone who knows their strengths and weaknesses and doesn’t let them limit their potential. Working together with your team members and realizing that they are much more than just your colleagues can be highly rewarding. It not only helps you grow professionally but helps build a positive attitude, become a strong communicator, and deal with constructive criticism. Most importantly, it plays an essential role in polishing your problem-solving skills. Therefore, when entering your workplace, remember to leave your ego at the door, and instead of competing with others, try becoming a good team player.