Teamwork: All for one, one for all

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What do you think is most likely to hurt your chances of getting ahead at work these days? Do you think it's being a complainer? Responding defensively to criticism? Nope. The number one thing that could hurt you is not being a team player, according to a survey commissioned by Accountemps, the financial staffing company.

150 executives from the nation's largest companies were surveyed and 57 percent agreed that team skills are most critical to career success. And although the survey was conducted with large companies, my work in smaller companies suggests that teamwork is just as important in those organizations. Collaboration and project teams are taking the place of hierarchical chain-of-command structures. And people who can work well in a group will have the edge as this trend continues.

If your old report cards showed good marks in "Works and plays well with others" it's going to really pay off in the workplace of the 90's. Here are some tips to help you boost your team skills:

1.      Appreciate your teammates. Pay attention to the little things not just the big projects. If they take time to do something for you, help you with a problem or offer a friendly ear, notice their efforts. With everyone taking on more work than ever before, it takes special effort to do these things but this is the glue that holds a team together.

The secret is in your mind-set. If you simply expect people to do the little extras for you because it's part of their job, they may still do it but resent the fact that you never notice. On the other hand, it you express appreciation each and every time someone goes a little out of their way to help you, you'll be amazed at the cooperation you'll get.

2.      Reach out to help others. Sure, you're busy. But so is everyone else. But never over-promise and under-deliver. In other words, only offer to do what you can pull off with your own schedule--then do what you said you would do. Trust is built when your fellow team members see that you are reliable and dependable and willing to pitch in to do your share.

3.      Muster the courage to confront conflicts face-to-face. If you have a conflict with your spouse or best friend, you think it through and then go talk to them about it as calmly as you can. You'd want to solve the problem and preserve the relationship at the same time.

Sometimes that means telling a friend or spouse something they don't want to hear, but you know they need to hear it because it's getting in the way. The same is true of great team members. They don't go running to the manager or talk behind someone else's back. They approach it sensitively and say something like this:"I know you had good intentions when you did that, but it's really a problem for me because..."

4.      Stay focused on the team goal instead of on your own glory. Team members who keep their eye on the common goal aren't the ones who say, "That's not my job." They step up to the challenge of joint accountability for a project. They take personal responsibility for doing whatever it takes instead of hiding behind the group. And when mistakes are made, they look for ways to fix it together instead of wasting time looking for a scapegoat to blame.

5.      They are good all-way communicators. Great teams know that they don't stay that way unless there is communication between individual members and with all members together. One-on-one discussions just aren't enough. Teamwork doesn't happen unless there is regular face-to-face communication to hash out problems and to reestablish the common direction. Unless this is happening in some form at least once a week, the team will tend to unravel.

6.      They treat each other as equals, regardless of position or title. They recognize that each person has value to add and they recognize every person’s contribution. They are there to achieve their goal as a team, and they know they won't win without everyone pulling together. They don't form cliques or exclude some members from meetings or fun activities simply because they don't have the same status or aren't as "important."

How are your team skills? Why not ask your own team? It may be the best career advice you ever hear.

Your career is your responsibility.  Create your own job security by acting more like an entrepreneur at work. Learn how to “sell” your skills to your organization, add more value on the job, develop your internal advocates and identify your personal motivators with Joan Lloyd’s You, Inc. – Success Strategies to Boost Your Career. Take charge of your career, today!