September 9 , 2001
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Playing
the Team Game by Craig Harrison |
Are you labeled "not a team player" for your independence and self-starting nature? Sometimes the flip side of being a loner or self-motivated employee is the perception you're not one of the team. Yet there are many ways you can meld your talents with others' so as to be recognized and appreciated as a valuable member of the team.
Success Is Not An Orphan Team players use the opportunity of their own recognition to spread it around. When you are praised for work you've done, remember to temper your acceptance of it with appreciation for those who contributed to your success. Even the pitcher who throws a no-hitter is supported by teammates who score runs and whose defense saves runs their opponent tries to score.
Help You, Help Me When you voluntarily mentor a new employee you are giving of yourself on behalf of more then the mentee. You are investing in the future success of the work group and company. Your willingness to guide and advise another employee cuts down their learning time, helping them become productive quicker, while also strengthening the company's culture of caring. You're forging a strong relationship with another employee and modeling cooperation instead of competition. These are positive behaviors for you and the company.
Eventful EffortsEfforts of yours that improve office moral are also positive team behavior. When you organize a recognition event for a co-worker such as honoring a birthday, work anniversary or the successful completion (or even survival) of a complicated project, you are bolstering the team and facilitating team building. Other moral boosters can include office outings, inter-departmental lunches or special events, or even off-site meetings combining fun with business. A fast growing company didn't have enough office space for full cubicles for all new hires. One unfortunate hire's assigned cubicle had a giant pole in its midst. She was stoic, never complaining about her plight. Co-workers felt for her. One night they hit the streets, collecting various fliers from telephone poles in their neighborhoods. The next day when the new employee reached her cubicle, the offending pole was now covered with notices about missing pets, renters seeking apartments and even GRE study groups. Not only did the employee know her co-workers felt her frustration, it bonded them as well as they pulled together to help one of their own. Form Your Own TeamIn unofficial ways you can build your own teams and form your own groups for the benefit of the department. Consider the following:
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