Team Player

It is obvious that the professional success of an individual depends on his ability to ‘fit’ into an organisation.
In other words, the professional success of an individual depends on his ability to be an able team player.
To be an able team player an individual requires certain qualities and abilities. These abilities can be acquired. Some of the important qualities are:
(1) Team spirit
(2) Positive attitude
(3) Co-operation
(4) Flexibility
(5) Effective communication skills

• Team Spirit:

To be part of a team, means to act as one with the rest of the members. That is to put the group before the self. Priority must be the team. Act as the team wants. Decisions have to be collective for collective good. Any advantage or mileage an individual might gain, must be credited to the team. The spirit of
sharing credit and reprimands is a must. Mention must also be made of the leadership issue. A individual must be prepared to be lead by the leader. Discussions must be solely with the leader and team players.
An individual’s voice is only one among all the players and the individual must recognize this.
The same spirit can be observed in athletic teams or sports teams, where an individual is important no doubt, has a specific role to play, but unless he plays for the team with team spirit, success cannot be attained. The individual is always smaller than the team.

• Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude is a great advantage. Always look at the brighter side of an issue. Try to find an advantage in a disadvantage. View ‘the glass as half full’ not ‘half empty’. As a member of a team, this positive attitude will always make others listen to the individual. It will help the individual to deal
with difficult situations in a positive manner. It also kindles hope in others and makes others also view issues positively. This attitude shows that a person will not loose heart easily and does not accept defeat easily. Be positive.

• Co-operation

An admirable quality and one that is essential to be a successful team player. To co-operate with an other person, to see his point of view, do things his way, accept success and failure, not making things difficult for other team players, all are acts of co-operation. Sharing information, putting the team above all else, are also considered acts of co-operation. When any two people are working together, there is a need for co-operation. Even a team of two people (the smallest size of a team) requires utmost cooperation from both players, if they want success. All members of a team have to co-operate with one another if the team has to be successful.

• Flexibility

An individual’s ability to be flexible is tested, most often in a team. The adjustment a person has to make from time to time can sometimes be very difficult. A person must make every effort to be as flexible as possible. Flexible in terms of responsibility, partners, role play, etc. To be flexible in the team means to be adaptable to various situations.

• Effective communication skills

Communication is the life line of any team. Therefore, developing effective communication skills becomes very important. The entire team must understand what the individual wants to convey and the individual must know what every other member of the team wants to convey. He must be understood and also must understand. Communication is a two way process. Try to master this skill, as there is no room for misunderstanding in a team.