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6 Key Traits You Need to Be a Great Team Player

Published: May 17, 2017

 Workplace Issues       
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As the saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” It’s a bit of a cheesy phrase, but there’s no denying that there’s plenty of truth to it. Working in a team enables us to complete tasks faster, be more effective, and achieve our goals.

This is especially true in a business environment, as the success of any organization depends on the people behind it. If you have team players on board with the right skill sets, then your business is well on its way to success.

What makes a strong team? Ultimately, you need contributing members who are all working toward a shared goal. Every member is vital and can have a huge impact on the rest of the team and its results.

Whether you have a natural flair for teamwork or could do to refine your skills, you always have room for improvement. We've compiled six key traits that you should develop in order to become a great team player.

1. A positive attitude

Your attitude has a big impact on your team, whether it’s positive or negative. If even one member of a team has a negative outlook, it can quickly influence the whole team, making everyone’s morale sink. Do your best to stay positive when working with your team. Tackle challenges as they come, and don’t let setbacks get you down. Positive thinking pays off, so be sure to do everything you can to keep your mood up.

2. Communication skills

Teams can’t be successful if their members don’t communicate effectively. While it can be tempting to focus only on your work, make sure to keep your colleagues updated with your status on different projects, so that everyone is on the same page. When you are communicating with your team, it is also important to be open and honest. This promotes trust and improves the efficiency of the entire team.

3. Respect

Everyone should be treated equally in a team, and it’s important to be respectful toward all your colleagues. Don’t let egos get in the way of effective teamwork. You can be respectful toward your colleagues by arriving on time to meetings, listening to what they have to say, and doing your fair share of work.

4. Dedication

Are you committed to your team, and do you really care about your results? It’s important that your team members don’t think you are there just for the paycheck. By putting forward ideas about ways the team or business can improve, using your initiative, and investing time in getting to know your colleagues, you will show that you are dedicated to the team.

5. Helpfulness

Teams can only improve when their members are helping each other. Even though you may be busy, you should always try your best to help a colleague if they come to you with a problem. Share your skills and knowledge, and be generous with your time when possible. Then, if you come across a situation in which you require assistance, you can rely on your team members to back you up.

6. Adaptability

Change happens, and it isn’t always something you can control. People deal with change in different ways, but great team players are always able to adapt. If you’re open to change and stay positive when it happens, you’ll be able to influence your team members who may not be as flexible as you.

Bringing it all together

If you can develop even just some of these six traits, you will be able to make a big impact on your team. Effective teamwork benefits everyone in a business, and if you keep striving to improve, you will see a difference in your team’s results.

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