Teamwork - How To Be A Better Team Contributor
By Robert Bacal, M.A.
More and more often, employees are expected to contribute to the performance and success of their work teams. While it sounds great on paper, it isn't all that easy to work in a team, since often team members are different in style, attitude, commitment, and work ethic. If you are a work team member, supervise, manage, or lead a team, take a good look at these tips and hints which will make it easier for team members to contribute more productively to their teams and decrease friction among team members. Stay tuned to the Teamwork File, though, because we have more suggestions on this topic!
Stop The Blaming Cycle
Often teams get bogged down in blaming members when things go wrong. As a team member, you can do two things to stop this wasteful and destructive team behavior. First, eliminate blaming language you may use. Replace blaming and finger-pointing comments or questions with a focus on solving problems or preventing problems. Second, if other team members get into the blaming cycle, step in and "turn" the conversation back to a constructive approach. For example, here's a good phrase: "Ok, maybe we could save some time here by trying to ensure that the problem doesn't happen again, so what can we do to prevent it next time?"
Focus On The Present And Future
This is related to the blaming cycle. Don't dwell on the past. Use the past (successes and team failures) to help the team determine where they need to go to improve. You can't change the past -- you can only use it to learn from.
Stop Back Channel Talk
Talking about a team member in private with another team member usually involves a blaming process. While sometimes it's good to vent frustration about a fellow team mate, you shouldn't be doing it within the team. It's counterproductive and harmful. Stop doing it unless you have a specific, constructive reason for doing so.
Personal Responsibility
Take responsibility for your behavior and the results that your team produces, but NOT the behavior of your team mates. When you take responsibility for another member's actions, you will tend to want to change your team mate, something that often creates dissension.
Finally, focus on YOUR contributions. Don't spend your time thinking about or telling team mates what THEY should be doing for the team. Think about what you can contribute and how you can contribute more effectively. Then do it. For example, if you have a great suggestion, don't dump it in the group with the expectation that someone else will implement it. You offer to do it...after all, it's your suggestion.
Warm regards
Sujeet Kumar
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)
Amend(0)
5By Robert Bacal, M.A.
More and more often, employees are expected to contribute to the performance and success of their work teams. While it sounds great on paper, it isn't all that easy to work in a team, since often team members are different in style, attitude, commitment, and work ethic. If you are a work team member, supervise, manage, or lead a team, take a good look at these tips and hints which will make it easier for team members to contribute more productively to their teams and decrease friction among team members. Stay tuned to the Teamwork File, though, because we have more suggestions on this topic!
Stop The Blaming Cycle
Often teams get bogged down in blaming members when things go wrong. As a team member, you can do two things to stop this wasteful and destructive team behavior. First, eliminate blaming language you may use. Replace blaming and finger-pointing comments or questions with a focus on solving problems or preventing problems. Second, if other team members get into the blaming cycle, step in and "turn" the conversation back to a constructive approach. For example, here's a good phrase: "Ok, maybe we could save some time here by trying to ensure that the problem doesn't happen again, so what can we do to prevent it next time?"
Focus On The Present And Future
This is related to the blaming cycle. Don't dwell on the past. Use the past (successes and team failures) to help the team determine where they need to go to improve. You can't change the past -- you can only use it to learn from.
Stop Back Channel Talk
Talking about a team member in private with another team member usually involves a blaming process. While sometimes it's good to vent frustration about a fellow team mate, you shouldn't be doing it within the team. It's counterproductive and harmful. Stop doing it unless you have a specific, constructive reason for doing so.
Personal Responsibility
Take responsibility for your behavior and the results that your team produces, but NOT the behavior of your team mates. When you take responsibility for another member's actions, you will tend to want to change your team mate, something that often creates dissension.
Finally, focus on YOUR contributions. Don't spend your time thinking about or telling team mates what THEY should be doing for the team. Think about what you can contribute and how you can contribute more effectively. Then do it. For example, if you have a great suggestion, don't dump it in the group with the expectation that someone else will implement it. You offer to do it...after all, it's your suggestion.
Warm regards
Sujeet Kumar
From India, Pune
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Good Article...
To include one more point, always keep the ultimate goal in mind:
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."
From India, Ahmadabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
To include one more point, always keep the ultimate goal in mind:
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."
From India, Ahmadabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi Surjeeth,
This is Gopi from Pondicherry. Your article is really good and I liked it. Could you provide some simple games for team building and teamwork so that I can engage with my employees?
Regards,
Gopi
From India, Chandigarh
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
This is Gopi from Pondicherry. Your article is really good and I liked it. Could you provide some simple games for team building and teamwork so that I can engage with my employees?
Regards,
Gopi
From India, Chandigarh
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi Surjeeth,
Your article on 'Team Building' is quite good. However, so much is said about building teams theoretically, but in practice, the commitment to build a constructive and progressive team is rarely seen. Being a Government employee, I used to think that the failure to build good teams happens only in Government, and Private Sector corporates are good at building teams. But, some people from the Corporate sector also feel the same pinch and mention that the professional ego of each individual becomes the hurdle in building a team and achieving its objectives. Hence, as Ajmal said, before entrusting each member with their respective specialized task, we have to ensure that all of them are clear about the objectives of the team so that they can work towards achieving the final objective, removing compartmentalization.
Srinivas
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Your article on 'Team Building' is quite good. However, so much is said about building teams theoretically, but in practice, the commitment to build a constructive and progressive team is rarely seen. Being a Government employee, I used to think that the failure to build good teams happens only in Government, and Private Sector corporates are good at building teams. But, some people from the Corporate sector also feel the same pinch and mention that the professional ego of each individual becomes the hurdle in building a team and achieving its objectives. Hence, as Ajmal said, before entrusting each member with their respective specialized task, we have to ensure that all of them are clear about the objectives of the team so that they can work towards achieving the final objective, removing compartmentalization.
Srinivas
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear all HR friends,
With reference to the topic, I would like to share something interesting:
1 Indian = 10 Japanese
10 Indians = 1 Japanese
We have a story that only one Indian's knowledge is equal to 10 Japanese knowledge, and 10 Indians' knowledge is equal to 1 Japanese knowledge. This is how we prove teamwork. A good example we can consider is the Indian cricket team. Tendulkar can prove himself individually, but when it comes to the group, he can't.
Swathi
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
With reference to the topic, I would like to share something interesting:
1 Indian = 10 Japanese
10 Indians = 1 Japanese
We have a story that only one Indian's knowledge is equal to 10 Japanese knowledge, and 10 Indians' knowledge is equal to 1 Japanese knowledge. This is how we prove teamwork. A good example we can consider is the Indian cricket team. Tendulkar can prove himself individually, but when it comes to the group, he can't.
Swathi
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi good one!!! Team success is valued high in today’s competitive world. Together wE Achieve More Regards
From India, Madras
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Madras
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi Sujeet,
Really good article on teamwork. I require help. Do you have any team work games or any ideas on team work games? I am working as a Manager - HRD in the automobile industry, and my main dealings are with the sales team. Therefore, I want to incorporate team-building games to motivate them. Through such games, I believe they can not only be motivated but also learn valuable lessons.
Hopeful for a reply from your side.
Thanks & Regards, Jyoti jyoti.hrm@gmail.com
From India, Ludhiana
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Really good article on teamwork. I require help. Do you have any team work games or any ideas on team work games? I am working as a Manager - HRD in the automobile industry, and my main dealings are with the sales team. Therefore, I want to incorporate team-building games to motivate them. Through such games, I believe they can not only be motivated but also learn valuable lessons.
Hopeful for a reply from your side.
Thanks & Regards, Jyoti jyoti.hrm@gmail.com
From India, Ludhiana
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)Join Our Community and get connected with the right people who can help. Our AI-powered platform provides real-time fact-checking, peer-reviewed insights, and a vast historical knowledge base to support your search.
5 Things to do after a team building program.pdf
A Game on Team Building.doc