What makes a great team player? If you asked 50 coaches or managers, you’d probably get 50 different answers. But what if there was a checklist that enabled you to honestly evaluate how great a team player you are? Leadership expert and author Tammy Holyfield has created exactly that. After working with thousands of professionals across a diverse assortment of Fortune 500 companies, Tammy has assembled the essential characteristics she believes most accurately determine an individual’s relevant “score.”
Top 10 Essentials of a Great Team Player
Want to increase bottom-line results? Learning to be a better team player is the fastest way to grow profits.
Pick ME! Pick ME!!! That reminds me of an elementary school playground where no one wants to be the last person picked for the team. We all want to be indispensable, but what are the “must haves” to get picked as a team player? Are you the person everyone wants on their team?
Teamwork is a key success factor in business, family, church, and recreation. But what are the character traits of great team players? We conducted a poll and asked this question: “If you could choose the ESSENTIAL TRAITS of your co-workers and assemble the entire team around you, what would be MOST important to you?” Here are the essential qualities of a team player:
1. Dependable
A great team player prioritizes tasks effectively, not just in the order received. If unsure about priorities, they consult their manager. As a dependable team player, you manage your time well, stay prepared for meetings, and work independently. Your manager and teammates will trust you for support when needed.
2. Effective Communicator
A great team member communicates well. They aren’t necessarily talkative but know how to effectively communicate with others. They listen attentively, use emotional intelligence, and understand subtle messages. They can organize their thoughts and express them clearly. Good team members communicate well both verbally in meetings and in writing through emails, memos, or messages.
3. Confident
Great team players trust their abilities and stay calm under pressure. Confidence lets them tackle challenges without fear. It inspires others and helps them make decisions effectively. Confident team members support their teammates, provide constructive feedback, and handle criticism well. They believe in their work and contribute positively to the team’s goals.
4. Solution Oriented
Collaborating involves critical thinking and solving issues as they come up. Problem-solving applies to both projects and people. A strong team player acts as an intermediary during conflicts. Use active listening when team members disagree. Consider all sides of an argument and stay impartial. Emphasize shared goals among peers. Establish good intent from everyone to ensure constructive conflict. This helps the team work towards a healthier resolution.
5. Adaptable
Collaboration requires compromise, adaptability, and flexibility. When faced with tough schedules or tasks, try to meet your peers halfway. Discuss what is reasonable and aim to accommodate their needs. Flexibility doesn’t mean doing everything for others. In a team, everyone should contribute fairly and aim for quality work. If you notice missed responsibilities or poor accountability, speak up. Approach these situations with good intentions and assume the same from your teammates.
6. Patient
Patient team members are more likely to listen, understand others, and make rational decisions. This reduces misunderstandings and conflicts, enabling effective problem-solving. A patient team member listens to different viewpoints before deciding. Patience improves relationships and teamwork.
7. Enthusiastic
Enthusiasm and positivity are crucial for becoming a better team player. They act as a hidden asset you can use anytime. Bring energy to every team meeting and offer help when possible. Look for new ways to collaborate with others and learn from each other. Celebrate team successes and handle failure gracefully. Positivity helps improve communication and fosters collaboration. Teammates may feel more comfortable sharing ideas or seeking support, and they may be more willing to help you in return.
8. Competent
Being competent means being highly qualified to do a job well, not just possessing basic skills. Competent people are committed to excellence, never settle for mediocrity, pay attention to detail, and perform consistently. To improve and exude competence, focus on a professional area you are naturally good at and enjoy. Pay attention to the details and push yourself. Prioritize implementation because, let’s face it – it’s one thing to put ideas on paper, but another to execute them on schedule.
9. Disciplined
Discipline involves doing tasks you dislike now to achieve what you truly want later. It requires paying the price for future rewards. To become the kind of player that teams desire, people need to develop discipline in three areas.
Think with discipline. Keep your mind active and focus on the right topics. Control your emotions, either mastering them or being mastered by them. Disciplined actions distinguish winners from losers. Acting on necessary tasks benefits everyone on the team.
Strengthen our work habits to become more disciplined team players. Do something necessary but unpleasant every day to train yourself to be more disciplined. Take on challenges by handling bigger tasks than you’re used to. As you tackle bigger tasks, you will realize you’re capable of more than you thought.
10. Tenacious
Being tenacious means giving your best, 100%, without overextending. It involves working with determination and not relying on luck or fate. Tenacious people keep working even when things get tough. They quit only when the job is done, not when they’re tired. To increase your tenacity, work harder or smarter, put in more hours, and plan your time efficiently. Stand for something by connecting your daily tasks to your bigger purpose. Make your work enjoyable by creating friendly competitions to motivate your team.
Importance of Soft Skills in Team Dynamics
Technical skills are important, but soft skills make an organization truly effective. Adapting, communicating clearly, and handling modern work challenges provide a competitive edge. Soft skills give employees the foundation to be adaptable and resilient team members. They improve communication, problem-solving, and task completion. These teamwork skills drive your work ethic and help you work efficiently.
Creating a Great Team Environment
Building strong work relationships takes time, but it leads to transformative results. Companies benefit from increased innovation and higher employee morale. Learn the steps to create a team environment in your workplace.
Establishing Ground Rules for Interaction
Create participation norms and ground rules together to build trust and respect among team members. This process helps everyone understand what is expected in team collaboration. Clearly defined rules ensure smooth communication and reduce misunderstandings. Encourage all members to voice their opinions and contribute to discussions openly. This approach fosters a positive and cooperative team environment.
Team Collaboration and Sharing Information
Create a collaborative environment where work is properly delegated and employees freely share information. Ensure all suggestions are heard and everyone can express opinions and ask questions comfortably. Each person should feel their input is valued by the organization.
Creating Opportunities for Team Bonding
Many organizations focus on bringing teams together, and team-building activities are important for this. Team-building games like egg drop, office trivia, and escape rooms can help unite teams. Organizing team lunches and virtual coffee breaks can also help team members form positive relationships and improve productivity.
Facilitating Conflict Resolution
Conflicts happen in any team, but how they are managed affects collaboration. Offer conflict resolution training to help your team get the skills necessary for effective disagreement handling and maintaining a positive work environment. Use workshops or sessions on conflict management techniques like active listening, mediation, and negotiation. Encourage open discussions and create a safe space for addressing issues constructively. This approach ensures conflicts strengthen rather than disrupt collaboration.
Encouraging Feedback and Reflection
Feedback is essential for improvement and teamwork. A culture of giving and receiving constructive feedback helps team members contribute and work better together. Schedule regular feedback sessions, either one-on-one or as a team. Encourage openness, honesty, and focus on growth. Use tools like 360-degree reviews to let everyone share insights. When feedback is part of your culture, collaboration will improve naturally.
Measuring Team Player Effectiveness
Understanding how effective your team players are is essential for advancing group goals and improving overall productivity. By evaluating team performance, you can identify strengths and areas for improvement.
The Team Player Trait Poll Explained
How would you rate in the Team Player Trait Poll? Try taking this Quick Team Trait Evaluation.
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being perfect how would you rate yourself?
Your score could increase your draft pick potential. Creating that “Superstar Team” starts with you. Rating you and your co-workers makes a fun staff meeting or team exercise.
Rating Yourself as a Team Member
Rating yourself as a team member helps you see strengths and weaknesses in how you work with others. This self-assessment helps you and your team improve and succeed together.
1. Dependable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Yours to Count on… Can you be counted on? Dependable people are consistently on time and deliver. They can be trusted to honor their commitments and keep promises. This is a learned behavior that is largely based on self-esteem and core values.
2. Effective Communicator 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The world’s greatest communicators know to incorporate more than words to persuade and inspire people to take action.
3. Confident 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Confidence precedes results. Team members who are confident about the mission as well as their ability to achieve success will motivate others to higher levels of performance.
4. Solution Oriented 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
A solution-oriented person looks to resolve issues instead of looking for fault.
5. Adaptable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Adaptable people are teachable and choose to explore processes, plans, and solutions to accomplish the overall team objectives.
6. Patient 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
This essential is evident in the difficult times. When the pressure is on is when our patience is tested but tested. Usually, when we pass this test it results in stronger and improved relationships.
7. Enthusiastic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Enthusiasm is contagious, and enthusiastic people can coach, encourage and inspire the team through rough terrain.
8. Competent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Webster defines it like this… having adequate abilities or capacity to function and develop in a specific skill or qualification.
9. Disciplined 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Is the ability to get done tasks that you may not “FEEL” like doing! It’s self-control gained by enforcing obedience over time.
10. Tenacious 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Where there is a will there is a way! Tenacious people never give up.
Score Key
81 to 100 Points = Excellent Team Player! First Round Pick
51 to 80 Points = We WILL Keep You… Second Round Pick
0 to 40 Points = Great News these are LEARNED skills… Third Round Pick
Notice… Neither education nor skill set made the list. Of course, we all want to work with highly skilled and intelligent people, but it was interesting to see character and behavior at the top of the list.
The Mission of Tammy Holyfield
Tammy Holyfield is a business development strategist, professional speaker, leadership expert, author, and consultant on a mission to teach and inspire people to improve their everyday lives. Using the methods and principles she teaches, Tammy has overcome great obstacles. Her message is dynamic, encouraging people to succeed and inspiring them to act!
Holyfield began her professional career in marketing and served as the Director of Marketing for Summit Pet Product Distributors, the IAMs Pet Food (Proctor and Gamble) regional distribution center. Today, she is the founder and CEO of Holyfield Consulting, a personal and business development company.
Holyfield Consulting specializes in organizational development, strategic planning, communication, building trust, strengthening teams, leadership development, increasing accountability and executing results. Each week she writes a column entitled “Ask the Coach”® which provides readers a fresh perspective on current challenges facing the business world.
Tammy addresses thousands of people each year from diverse Fortune 500 companies and has consulted and trained entrepreneurs, CEOs, professionals, and individuals from all walks of life. Her ideas are proven practical and get results. Clients say that working with Tammy has created an increase in morale, solidified corporate culture, and bridged the communication gap from vision to results.
Her audiences and clients agree that Tammy teaches techniques and strategies that are easy to understand and put to use immediately to achieve greater results in their lives and careers.
Her latest book hit number 2 on the Amazon Best-Seller list, co-authored with the legendary business development expert, best-selling author, and speaker Brian Tracy. “Counter-Attack: Business Strategies for Explosive Growth in the New Economy” will feature Brian Tracy along with leading experts from around the world across diverse fields of business.
FAQs
How does emotional intelligence impact teamwork?
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is key for collaboration. Team members with strong EQ understand and manage their emotions and empathize with others, aiding communication and teamwork. To develop EQ, provide workshops or training on emotional intelligence. Encourage active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution in daily interactions. Building EQ leads to better collaboration and stronger relationships.
What qualities make an effective team leader?
A good team leader has effective communication skills, strong ethics, empathy, and technical expertise. They can inspire employees, create a positive work environment, maintain team morale, and build healthy working relationships with team members.
How does team communication affect productivity?
Good communication in a company leads to accountability among workers. With clear instructions, employees know what is expected of them. This improves accountability and increases productivity.
How do great team players impact team morale?
Great team players are always ready to help, guide, and celebrate team achievements. This builds a sense of belonging and camaraderie among members. Each success strengthens unity and shared purpose, motivating the team to reach greater heights.
Author of 31 books translated into over 50 languages, including best-sellers "The NEW Art of Managing People" and "The Platinum Rule," Dr. Alessandra helps organizations build stronger relationships with prospects, customers, and co-workers.
When not developing new assessment tools, Tony explores cutting-edge business communication trends. Connect with Dr. Alessandra on LinkedIn to learn how his innovative approaches can boost your team's performance.
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