A follow-up companion reader to The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, here is a clear character profile of
ideal Team Player. Maxwell stresses some main qualities of a good team player: intentional, or she is focused on big picture, relational, focused on others, selfless, willing to take a backseat for good of team, and tenacious - works hard to overcome obstacles, no matter what.1. Adaptable: If you won't change for team, team may change youTeam players who are most likely to become adaptable possess following characteristics: a) they are highly teachable; b) they are emotionally secure; c) they are creative; and, d) they are service-minded individuals.
To achieve such characteristic, following are recommended: a) get into habit of learning; b) reevaluate your role on team; and, c)think outside lines.
2. Collaborative: Working together precedes winning together Collaboration is key word when it comes to meeting challenges as a team. Cooperation is merely working together agreeably, but collaborating means working together more aggressively. Every team player must bring something more to table, and not just put in his minimum required work.
A collaborative team player needs to change in four key areas: a) Perception; b) Attitude; c) Focus; and, d) Results
3. Committed: There are no halfhearted champions Commitment usually is discovered in midst of adversity. Committed people don't surrender easily. It does not depend on gifts or abilities. Rather, it is result of choice. Commitment lasts when it's based on values. If it's something you believe in, it's easier to keep.
To improve level of commitment, one must:
- Tie commitments to values. - Take a risk. - Evaluate teammates' commitment.
4. Communicative: A team is many voices with a single heartCommunicative team players do not isolate themselves from others; make it easy for teammates to communicate with them; follow twenty-four hour rule; give attention to potentially difficult relationships; and, follow up important communication in writing. To improve communication one is expected to: a) be candid; b) be quick; and, c) be inclusive.
5. Competent: If you can't, your team won't Competent does not mean simply having adequate skills to perform a job. It means individual must be highly qualified to do job well. To improve level of competence, one must: a) focus yourself professionally; b) sweat small stuff; c) give more attention to implementation.
6. Dependable: Teams go to Go-To players
The essence of dependability:
- Pure motives. If there are no hidden agendas team will make progress. - The ability to take on responsibility. The team player must want ball and be able to sink it in basket and score. - Sound thinking and good judgment, when it counts. - Consistent contribution, no matter how tired, overwhelmed or distracted, you must be able to deliver.
To improve dependability one must: a) check your motives; b) discover what your word is worth.; and, c) find someone to hold you accountable.
7. Disciplined: Where there's a will, there's a win Discipline is doing what you really don't want to do, so that you can do what you really want to do. It means paying price so you can have reward later. To become kind of players teams want, people must develop discipline in three areas.
- Disciplined thinking. Keep your mind active, and always think about right things. - Disciplined emotions. Either you master your emotions, or be mastered by them. - Disciplined actions. Action separates winners from losers. When people act on what they must do, it is for benefit of all those on team.
8. Enlarging Adding value to teammates is invaluable
Team members love a player who is able to inspire them to become more successful. Team players who enlarge their teammates share common characteristics:
- Enlargers value their teammates. - Enlargers value what their teammates value. - Enlargers add value to their teammates. - Enlargers make themselves more valuable.
How do we become Enlargers?
- Believe in others before they believe in you. - Serve others before they serve you. - Add value to others before they add value to you.
Point out your teammates' strengths, encourage and motivate them out of their comfort zone, but within their gift zone.
9. Enthusiastic: Your heart is source of energy for team People who bring an enthusiastic attitude to teamwork often.
- Take responsibility for their own enthusiasm. - Act their way into feeling. The only way to begin is simply to begin! - Believe in what they are doing. - Spend time with enthusiastic people. Enthusiasm is contagious.
