essay about team player

Teamwork Essay

Teamwork is an essential part of workplace success. Every team member has a specific role to play in accomplishing team tasks. Organisations look for people who not only know how to work well with others but who understand which team member can perform which task perfectly. When everyone in the team works together to accomplish goals, everyone achieves more. Successful teams are characterised by a team spirit based on trust, mutual respect, helpfulness and friendliness. This teamwork essay will help students understand the importance of working as a team and how effective teamwork is. Also, it has been explained with the help of a short story.

Students can go through the list of CBSE essays comprising different topics to practise essay writing. Doing so will help them to score higher marks in the writing section. Moreover, they will be able to participate in essay writing competitions conducted at their schools.

500+ Words Essay on Teamwork

Teamwork means the ability of people to work together. It occurs when the members of a team work together and utilise their individual skills to achieve a common goal. It is a cooperative process that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results. A team has a common goal or purpose where team members can develop effective, mutual relationships to achieve team goals.

Successful teamwork relies upon synergism existing between all team members. Team members create an environment where they are all willing to contribute and promote and nurture a positive, effective team environment. Team members are flexible enough to adapt to cooperative working environments. The goals are achieved through collaboration and social interdependence rather than individualised, competitive goals.

Importance of Teamwork

It is rare that a piece of work is successfully completed by a single individual working alone without interacting with anyone. With teamwork, the work gets done more quickly and with higher quality. Teamwork helps to promote deep learning, which occurs through interaction, problem-solving, dialogue, cooperation and collaboration. Shared goals can easily be achieved by working together and pooling experience and expertise.

Teamwork has emerged in recent years as one of the most important ways of organising work. Many organisations have realised that teamwork enables employees to perform better, hence resulting in good organisational performance. Teamwork has the potential to improve the performance of individual employees and the organisation. Teamwork helps in developing the skills and perspectives of the employees through positive opinions, feedback, experiences and viewpoints. Teamwork is an important tool that is used to carry out varied functions accurately and efficiently. The core value of teamwork is the reduction of workload, which helps the employees perform better without any kind of work pressure because the tasks are distributed equally among all the members.

The Magic of Teamwork

Here is a short story that will help you to understand the importance of teamwork. Once upon a time, in a jungle, there was a monkey and an elephant who were good friends. One day an unusual quarrel happened between the two about who was better. Each one thinks of himself to be better than the other. While the elephant advocated it was better to be strong, the monkey was adamant that being fast and agile was better.

Unable to resolve the matter, they headed to the wise owl and posed the same question to him. The owl promised to answer the question provided they had to take a challenge. They had to go far away across the river, where a golden fruit was hung on a tall tree. Whosoever will bring the fruit will be the best.

So, the monkey and the elephant set out on their journey to bring the fruit to the wise owl. When the monkey reached the banks of the river, he realised that the river was too deep for him and the currents too strong. The elephant saw his friend and asked the monkey to climb on his back, and together they crossed the river. When they reached the tree, the elephant tried to push the tree. But the tree was huge and wouldn’t budge. So the monkey climbed up the tree and plucked the fruit. He climbed down, sat on the elephant’s back, and they reached the wise owl.

The owl then asked, “Of the two of you, who brings this fruit to me?” The monkey said he did because he plucked the fruit from the tree and the elephant said he did because he helped the monkey get onto the other side of the river. At this point, the wise owl stopped the argument and said, “Each one of us has unique abilities and strengths. Collectively as a team, we can achieve the impossible. All because we used your strength at the right time to do the right thing.”

Teamwork is the collective effort made by each member of a team to achieve the team goal. Individually, we all have certain skills, and we are good in one area. If all of us come together and use our strength and expertise in the right direction, then it will give the best result. Also, it gives an opportunity to each member to learn something new from each other.

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16 Good Team Player Characteristics

By: Grace He | Updated: December 11, 2023

You found our list of top team player characteristics .

Team player characteristics are qualities that indicate a team member can contribute to the group in a meaningful way. These qualities demonstrate a willingness and capability to help the team achieve successful outcomes. Examples include cooperation, good listening skills, divergent thinking, and the ability to empathize and sympathize with others. Searching for these traits ensures that the team runs smoothly and that every member productively plays their part.

These traits are examples of team building skills and team management skills and are similar to signs of a good manager  and strong leadership qualities . These employees create a more positive workplace .

The list includes:

• signs of a team player
• qualities of a good team member
• examples of team player skills
• characteristics of a strong team player
• how to be a team player at work

Here is the list!

List of team player characteristics

From having an optimistic outlook to being proactive in handling difficult tasks, here are some characteristics of a team player.

1. Stays Open-minded

Being open-minded lets a team player be receptive to ideas and information from other team members and outsiders. When individual team members get too attached to their own ideas and opinions, it can be difficult for the team to function effectively. The ability to accept new ideas is valuable and allows team players to be open to opinions, even when they are subject experts. By keeping an open mind, an effective team player can help with decision-making and lead the group during times of change. Open-minded team players can work around obstacles created by limited thinking, making them a resource and beneficial player on the team when challenges arise.

2. Communicates Effectively

When team players can communicate effectively, other team members clearly understand their intentions and expectations. Team players with effective communication skills can also help explain processes in a way that newcomers to the team can pick up easily. Having documentation that clearly and accurately communicates required functions can make a new worker’s transition into the group a more positive experience.

While effective communication is useful for speaking in meetings and writing documentation, the ability to communicate clearly goes beyond just speaking and writing. Illustrating a complicated idea in simple terms is also an aspect of effective communication. This skill can help others understand complex concepts, turning a team player into a translator and a teacher for the rest of the team.

Here is a list of books on communication .

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3. Cooperates

While some tasks require individual attention, being a proper team player means knowing how to cooperate with others. Cooperation may come in the form of contributing ideas to a project or taking immediate action when an all-hands-on-deck situation arises.

But being cooperative as a team player means more than just working well with others. Cooperation also means adopting the team’s philosophies and supporting the cause rather than making friction. If disagreements arise, then a cooperative team member defers to the ideas that best represent the project or group. The understanding that the best idea wins, even when it is not your idea, is a major part of being cooperative and a mantra a true team player eagerly accepts.

Check out this list of ways to boost workplace cooperation .

4. Helps Others

By being able to lend a hand when needed, a team player shows helpfulness that makes the team function more smoothly. Helpfulness may look like volunteering for tasks or projects or assisting others when their work falls behind. Whether the task is simple or complex, a team player is ready to jump in and help whenever necessary.

When outside forces need help only your team can provide, a helpful team player sees the request as an opportunity to represent the whole team. Being eager to step up when called on speaks well of the worker and reflects well on the group the worker represents.

5. Works Proactively

Successful team players anticipate the team’s needs and try to stay ahead of new tasks. This initiative also helps team players prepare for situations before they arise. By organizing resources for an upcoming project or tracking the timing of a new task, proactive team players help the team prepare for additional work.

While sometimes it may look like these workers are jumping the gun, true team players are really preparing the group for an easier transition. In addition to being better prepared to help, proactive team players also make space for potential problems and the extra time and attention to fix them. In the simplest terms, a proactive team player sets up the whole team for success.

6. Shows Optimism

Optimism is one of the most important characteristics of a strong team player. Having an optimistic outlook as a team player does not mean believing everything is always okay. This attitude means dealing with the reality of a situation without becoming hopeless. An optimistic team player can recognize a setback or challenge, process the information, and determine a solution.

By applying positive energy, optimistic team players keep moving forward without lingering in moments of disappointment. The possibility of alternate outcomes is always front of mind, which makes these individuals’ enthusiasm to push forward infectious to the rest of the team. The more optimistic team players you have in your group, the easier it is to maintain momentum and find workarounds when sticking points arise.

7. Encourages Others

One of the most important signs of a team player is their encouragement to their teammates. A true team player understands that the group’s success means success for individuals on the team. As a cheerleader for their coworkers, a team player can enhance the team’s energy and positively affect others. There tends to be a halo effect when team players encourage others to be their best, do their best, and give their best.

A team player who sets the example of encouragement models positive qualities for their coworkers. The resulting enthusiasm will likely turn the group into an encouragement engine, with teammates sending positive vibes back and forth and becoming more motivating individuals overall. When you have a team filled with encouraging team players, you have a team that thrives.

8. Knows How to Lead

Team players understand that leadership can sometimes come from within the group. There may be moments when a supervisor is unavailable when needed to make crucial decisions or lead a work effort. A team player with leadership ability steps up to take risks and help guide the group to the best of their abilities. These folks recognize that decisive action will help the team move forward and might even assist outside teams get the answers they need.

As effective communicators, team players who step into momentary leadership roles know to report back to their supervisors to keep them in the loop. This leap in responsibility comes with the risk that the decision may not be the preferred choice. Taking responsibility for their actions is a critical part of leadership in a team player and learning from their mistakes.

Here is a list of leadership skills .

9. Knows When to Follow

Team players need to know when to follow their leader’s example, such as upholding the team’s core mission or taking on a project as a subordinate to another worker. When another team member steps up to assume a leadership role, a team player who knows how to follow will offer their knowledge and talents to assist the new leader to become successful.

Team players with a solid sense of followership understand that letting others lead does not minimize their own leadership skills. It simply means that another teammate has stepped up and needs assistance from the whole group. In these moments, providing the help necessary provides the opportunity for a team player to become an effective follower.

10. Thinks Critically

Considering a situation from multiple angles makes a team player an asset to the group. Teams are bound to encounter work scenarios where a single answer is the only answer. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to examine possible solutions and reason through them until the ideal solution becomes clear.

Beyond anticipating how the possible outcomes will play out, this type of problem-solving requires the ability to absorb the ideas of others on the team. A team of critical thinkers allows cooperation and collaboration, with ideas shared freely. Critical thinking is just as effective when a team player works on an individual task, allowing them to make valuable contributions in different settings.

11. Knows How to Delegate

When a team player gets the chance to become the leader of a smaller sub-team, knowing how to delegate responsibilities becomes an important characteristic. The sub-team may consist of only a few workers, but a lead team player who can define roles for each team member based on those members’ strengths will ensure an efficient effort from the whole group.

Delegation may come in the form of appointing duties or may appear as assigning specific tasks to individual workers. A team player with delegation skills can tell what the situation calls for and act in the project’s and team’s best interest. This sort of balancing act can be difficult, but a true team player can handle it skillfully and successfully.

12. Listens Well

Key among the examples of team player skills is their ability to listen. It may seem like an obvious ability, but effective listening involves more than just hearing. Team players with good listening skills know that asking questions to get further clarification is a vital element in the listening process.

Part of being an effective listener is active listening. Team players demonstrate effective listening by ensuring they understand what they have heard. Team members often assume they understand what they hear but end up confused and frustrated. A team player who listens effectively recognizes that some concepts are unclear on first listen and require further explanation. These team members are unafraid to raise their hands and ask questions, which can sometimes help inform the entire team.

13. Keeps Curious

A team player with a healthy curiosity adds value to the whole organization. Whether learning to perform tasks outside of their role or looking for opportunities to improve processes for the group, a curious team player is unafraid of taking in new information.

When the team takes on new functions, curious team players will usually lead the charge with excitement. These employees often become subject matter experts and can help with onboarding tasks or create training materials to educate incoming team members. A diverse knowledge base makes a curious team member an asset and a resource from whom other team members can learn.

14. Shows Generosity

The most effective team players are generous with their time and attention. These team members understand the importance of sharing information and are more than willing to give their knowledge. Generosity may appear as a moment of recognition, during which a generous team player ensures the right coworkers receive credit for their efforts. A simple willingness to break away from their own tasks to help a frustrated workmate through a difficult moment is also a display of team player generosity.

Because teamwork is, by definition, an exchange, generous team players recognize that by being giving with their resources, they set the tone for their teammates to reciprocate. As a positive influence on the group, a generous team player is one of the most important figures a team can have.

15. Shows Self-Awareness

A team member who shows self-awareness is as honest about their weaknesses as they are about their strengths. These workers understand that admitting flaws is a necessary part of self-improvement. Recognizing their shortcomings makes team players more likely to accept suggestions for development.

Self-aware team players also know that they are one piece of a greater machine that only works when all the pieces function properly. A team player’s self-awareness may mean that they step forward when their strongest skills can help the situation, not out of arrogance but out of recognition. This type of comfort in their own skin comes across as quiet confidence in a truly self-aware team player.

16. Welcomes Feedback

Because feedback is a necessary part of a team experience, being able to welcome feedback is among the most crucial characteristics of a strong team player. Whether the message is a compliment or a critique, a true team player learns from what others have to say. Every improvement helps the team perform better, in addition to making the individual a stronger team member. A team player recognizes that downfalls in their own performance can compromise the group and is eager to address pain points and move forward.

When team players welcome feedback, they take a professional approach to their responses. They may ask for more information to ensure they understand what they must work on. They may also request follow-up feedback or guidance in making improvements to avoid missteps. This ability to view criticism as an opportunity for development is a team player’s secret weapon for success.

Check out this guide to constructive feedback .

A combination of helpful team player characteristics can turn an average worker into a teamwork superstar. Many of these traits develop over time, helping workers who may need a bit of guidance become better team players. With workshops demonstrating techniques for enhancing the qualities that benefit the group, you can introduce your crew to methods for strengthening their team player characteristics. You may end up with your very own power team!

Next, check out these examples of animals that work together in nature and quotes about teamwork .

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FAQ: Team player characteristics

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about team player characteristics.

What are team player characteristics?

Team player characteristics are traits that help a team member become an effective contributor to their team. When individual team members exhibit helpful team player characteristics, they model good behaviors for their teammates and help the group function well.

What makes a good team player?

A good team player is willing to help others and shows curiosity for new information. Listening and communicating effectively are valuable characteristics for team players, as are having an optimistic outlook and knowing how to encourage their teammates.

How do you identify team players in the workplace?

You can identify team players in the workplace by looking for skillful, open-minded communicators who are unafraid to assist their teammates. Worke s who show initiative when it comes time to take on new tasks are some of the most visible team players in the group.

Why is it important to be a team player at work?

It is important to be a team player at work because the success of the team depends on the ability for the members to work efficiently and effectively together. Assisting not only other workers within the group but also teams and individuals from outside the group can help the entire organization thrive.

Author: Grace He

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at teambuilding.com. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.

Grace is the Director of People & Culture at teambuilding.com. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: The Importance of Working Together

Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

Luis Alvarez / Getty Images

Why Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Characteristics of good teamwork, how to foster good teamwork, how to be a good team player.

You’ve probably seen the phrase “Teamwork makes the dream work” printed on office mugs and motivational posters. But what exactly does it mean and what does good teamwork look like?

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The phrase “Teamwork makes the dream work” essentially means that dividing tasks and responsibilities among a team can lead to better outcomes than a single person doing the same task, says Sabrina Romanoff , PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University.

The saying was initially coined by American clergyman John C. Maxwell. Maxwell published an eponymous book in 2002, in which he wrote, “Teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team.” In his book, Maxwell discusses the importance of working together collaboratively and shares some principles for building a strong team.

The phrase caught on and has become popular over the years. In this article, we explore the benefits of teamwork, the characteristics of good teamwork, as well as some steps to help you be a good team player and build a strong team.

Below, Dr. Romanoff explains why teamwork is important and the benefits it can offer:

• Improves efficiency and output: Teamwork is important because much more can be accomplished as part of a team than a single person working alone. Successful teams are much more efficient and effective at completing tasks than individuals.
• Produces better solutions: Teamwork allows the opportunity for diverse perspectives to tackle problems and find solutions that are more resourceful and effective than one person’s input alone. When multiple people are contributing, more knowledge, viewpoints, and feedback are incorporated, helping teammates arrive at more holistic solutions.
• Offers a larger pool of resources: Each member of the team can contribute their efforts, knowledge, abilities, and strengths to the task at hand. The team can tap into the resources each member provides to tackle new challenges.
• Promotes growth and learning: When people work together, there is an opportunity for each member of the team to learn and grow, both personally and professionally.
• Creates strong bonds among teammates: Collaborating on shared tasks, helping others, and working together helps teammates foster strong connections. People bond when they work together toward a common goal in an encouraging and supportive environment.
• Fosters a feeling of belonging: Teamwork also taps into our human need for belonging to a community or group and feeling like we are working towards something that is bigger than ourselves.
• Reduces stress: People tend to feel more supported when they’re part of a team. They often experience less perceived stress because they’re not facing the problem alone.

According to Dr. Romanoff, these are some of the characteristics of good teamwork: 

• Shared goal: A successful team articulates and agrees on a common goal that has meaning to its members. Shared understanding of the goal the team is working toward is crucial so that everyone is on the same page and the team can operate as a cohesive unit.
• Cooperation: It’s important for teammates to actively listen to one another, cooperate with each other, and help one other out when required. A collaborative approach leads to more efficient and effective output.
• Respect: When people feel respected by their teammates, they are able to freely share ideas and opinions without fear of rejection or judgment. This level of safety sets the stage for greater commitment among teammates, originality, and novelty.
• Trust: There is trust that each member will deliver on their role for the team and meet their commitments. Team members take their responsibilities seriously and commit to following through on behalf of the individual members but also for the collective group. Each member is also trusted with placing the team’s interests above their own.
• Coordination: The team is well-organized so everyone is systematically and efficiently working together toward deadlines and shared goals. Effective communication and coordination are the bedrock of good teamwork.
• Strong interpersonal relationships: There are strong relationships among teammates. Team members care about each other and relationships are deeper than just their roles in the team. For instance, there is knowledge and sharing about people’s personal lives, and interest in other’s talents, skills, and interests. Team members take the time to celebrate achievements or have social outings outside of work to get to know each other as people.
• Effective conflict-resolution: Members of the team understand that conflict is inevitable but they are able to successfully manage and resolve them, by prioritizing the team’s goal over individual differences and conflicts. This means addressing issues among team members as they come up instead of pushing them under the rug, while also keeping differences among members in perspective so they don’t override the group’s mission.

Dr. Romanoff shares some strategies that can help you foster good teamwork:

• Define the goal: Define the mission and goal of the team. These can be co-constructed with your teammates, as team members are likely to have more buy-in when they have a role in choosing goals that are personally meaningful to them.
• Regularly ask for and provide feedback: Checking in with team members is the best way to implement needed change. This doesn’t have to be a formal process. Instead, openly discussing how team members are feeling can be normalized as part of the team’s culture.
• Maintain transparency: Be transparent, not just about the goal of the team but the goal of smaller tasks and mandates. This helps people understand how each job and agenda item is contributing to the overall mission of the organization.
• Making learning a continuous priority: Offer trainings, reading material, and resources to team members. Bring in people to teach on new topics and host events where members can share new information and passions with their teammates.
• Recognize accomplishments: Give team members kudos for a job well done and have their good work acknowledged by their peers and managers. 
• Foster a culture of gratitude: It can be helpful to foster a culture of gratitude by having members consider what they are grateful for within the team or in their day, to help them reflect on what they appreciate in another.

If you’re wondering how to be a good team player, Dr. Romanoff has some suggestions that can help:

• Commit to the goal: Commit to the group process and the team’s goal. 
• Take ownership: Take your tasks and responsibilities seriously. Be accountable to yourself and your teammates. Be cognizant of how your actions impact the team.
• Be flexible: Be flexible , open to change, and willing to take on new challenges or responsibilities to help your team.
• Work with your peers, not against them: Don’t compete with your peers. Instead try to work together toward a common goal and help each other out.
• Maintain a positive mindset: Be positive and optimistic. This mindset is contagious and will draw other team members towards you.
• Stay true to your values: Have integrity and speak your mind to advocate for the greater good and values of the group, even if it means going against what other group members are saying.

If you’ve ever been part of a team that just clicked, you know that being part of a team can be engaging and gratifying. Whether it’s at home, at work, on a playground, or in a relationship, working together as part of a team offers several benefits.

Clark W. Teamwork: A multidisciplinary review . Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2021;30(4):685-695. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2021.05.003

Rosen MA, DiazGranados D, Dietz AS, et al. Teamwork in healthcare: Key discoveries enabling safer, high-quality care . Am Psychol . 2018;73(4):433-450. doi:10.1037/amp0000298

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

The 3 qualities of the most effective team players

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This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community;  browse through  all the posts here.

We’re currently living in an era of teamwork.

Today, we take for granted the fact that we can be on the same team as somebody who lives on the other side of the country — or the world — and that’s largely because of technology. As a result of technology, people are developing in-organization solutions that are amazing and complex and that are solving problems in business, medicine and communication, in every kind of field. Those complex solutions demand that people collaborate and work together as teams.

But even though teamwork is everywhere, we continue to train people — whether in education or in the workforce — for primarily individual and technical skills . As someone who’s worked with teams for the past 25 years in the corporate world and written two books about teamwork, I think that needs to change. And that’s why I’m going to share with you the three simple virtues that make for a good team player.

The first and by far the most important is humility. I f you want to be an ideal team player and if you want to be successful in life, you really need to be humble. Most of us know what humility is — it means not being arrogant or self-centered but putting others ahead of ourselves. It’s such an attractive and powerful thing.

When somebody lacks confidence and makes themselves small, that’s not humility. To deny our talents is actually a violation of humility, just like it is to exaggerate them. The writer C.S. Lewis said it best when he wrote, “Humility isn’t thinking less of ourselves, it’s thinking about ourselves less.” ( Editor’s note: That quote has long been misattributed to Lewis. )

The second is equally simple: You have to be hungry. This simply means having a strong work ethic. People who have an innate hunger about getting work done are typically much more successful on teams and in life. This quality is the one that you probably have to develop earliest in life; when I work with people later in life who never developed it, it can be harder for them to build it. Being hungry is not about workaholism, though. Workaholics are people who get their entire identity from their work. People who are hungry just want to go above and beyond what’s expected; they have a high standard for what they do, and they never do just the minimum.

The third attribute is what I call being smart. But it’s not about intellectual smarts; this is about emotional intelligence and having common sense around how we understand people and how we use our words and actions to bring out the best in others. This is so important in the world, and being smart is one of those things that people can work on and get better at.

You need to have all three qualities to be a great team player. So it’s really important that you learn how to identify in yourself and in others when one of them is lacking. I’ve come up with some labels that you can use to refer to people (including yourself) who are missing one of these traits.

A person may be humble and hungry but they lack smarts — I call them the accidental mess maker . As a manager, I have a lot of time for accidental mess makers. They’re good people, they have really good intentions, but they create problems that they’re not aware of. They’re like a puppy; they knock things over a lot but they mean well. The problem with this type is you have to clean up after them and over time, you can get tired of having to say things like, “He’s a really good guy; he didn’t mean it that way.”

Then there’s someone who’s humble and smart but they lack hunger — I call them the lovable slacker. The problem is while they’re lovable and really fun to be around, they do just the bare minimum. They don’t go above and beyond. You have to constantly remind them to do more, and you have to pick up their slack in an organization.

The most difficult type is the team member who is hungry and smart but they’re not humble — I call them the skillful politician. They know how to portray themselves as being humble, which is a very dangerous thing. They’re able to interview well, and they say the right things at meetings. The problem is, deep down inside them, work is about them, and not about others. By the time managers figure it out, there’s usually a trail of dead bodies hidden in closets around the organization.

So, what do you do with this information?

Don’t misuse these labels. Don’t say to your boss or colleague, “Hey, I think that you’re an accidental mess maker.”

Next, apply these categories to yourself and the people around you. Sit down with your work team, your family, or the soccer team you coach. Explain the qualities, and have everybody rank themselves in those three areas — which one they’re best at, second best and third. Even if they’re good at all of them, they’re still going to be better in some and weaker in another.

Then, go around the group and ask people to explain their third and why it’s theirs. Talk together about how they can strengthen this trait. Give each other advice; turn your colleagues, your team members and your family members into each other’s coaches.

For the person who needs help being humble, you might say something like, “Maybe you shouldn’t talk about yourself so much and instead, ask questions about others and take an interest in their lives.” For the person who needs to be hungry, suggest that when they’re about to sign out for the day, they should check in and see if there’s work that still needs to be done. And for the person who needs to be emotionally smarter, ask them to double-check at the end of meetings whether they’ve treated everyone with kindness and respect.

It’s time that we changed the way we think about success as a society and how we prepare people for success in life. By developing these three qualities in ourselves, we could start to change ourselves and improve our organizations, our schools, our families — and our world.

This piece was adapted from a TEDxUniversityofNevada Talk. Watch it here:

About the author

Patrick Lencioni is one of the founders of organizational health consultancy The Table Group and the author of 11 books, including The Ideal Team Player.

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How to be a good team player: Tips for becoming the dreamy coworker

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The characteristics of a good team member

Why should you learn to be a good team player, 10 tips to be a good team player, perfect balance: leadership versus collaboration, how to recognize bad team players, how to deal with a bad teammate, do you consider yourself a good team player.

Learning how to be a good team player can help you achieve your work goals and get along better with your coworkers. So why do we often find it hard to work with others? 

When trying to complete an important project, it’s easy to feel like you can only trust yourself to get the job done. You might work long hours , leave your coworkers off of important email threads, or make decisions without input from others. Though seems like the more efficient way to get things done , in the long run, it can harm you and your career .  

Even if your coworkers are difficult to be around, you have to learn how to be a good team player . Everyone, from entry-level workers to entrepreneurs , has to work with other people to achieve their goals. You even need teamwork skills in your personal life — have you ever tried to decide where to eat dinner with your friends, only to have one person try to control the discussion? 

From networking to emotional support, your “team” is comprised of people who can make or break your goals. Everyone has different strengths, and you can’t follow your dreams without the right people by your side. Plus, if you don’t work well with others, you could burn out from the effort of trying to do everything alone. 

So how can you learn how to be a good team player? Let’s dive into what makes a great team member and 10 tips for improving your teamwork skills at work.

Being a good collaborator takes more than just being liked by your colleagues. Sometimes it’s about making tough decisions for the benefit of the group or being the dissenting voice in a controversial meeting. Above all, a good team player has the following characteristics: 

Accountability. Effective team players are accountable to themselves and to others. They take responsibility for their actions or mistakes and understand how their choices impact the team.

Flexibility. Adapting to change is a critical part of a team’s success. Strong collaborators are willing to take on new challenges to support their peers and tweak deadlines for the greater good.

Positivity. A positive mental attitude keeps morale high. Teams value people who exude optimism.

Commitment. Successful team players believe in the group’s processes and team goals . They stand in solidarity with the rest of their members.

Integrity. The value of integrity is important in a team setting. A good colleague doesn’t just say “yes” to everything — they push back on ideas they think go against the team’s values.

Forbes listed “collaboration” as one of the top 10 skills employers look for in their employees — and with good reason. Collaborative team dynamics , where members feel safe to share ideas and lean on their partners, encourage productivity, efficiency, and innovation .

Teamwork also improves employee morale and overall well-being , as everyone feels valued and knows they can ask for help. 

Collaboration is sought-after by employers, so consider expressing how you’re a team player on your resume and when answering interview questions . Bolster your collaboration skills with stats and team accomplishments.

People often misunderstand what makes a great team player. They think collaboration means saying yes to everything, not having boundaries, and never pushing back on bad ideas . But in reality, the opposite is true. 

You have the ability to be an intelligent and capable member of a team. That means you shouldn’t be afraid of speaking up when needed. In fact, it’s probably expected of you . You need to recognize that you’re a valuable contributor and can participate in decision-making. 

Here are 10 tips on how to be a better team player in the workplace:

1. Be a good communicator

Healthy communication skills are vital to your professional development. Actively listening , relaying your ideas clearly, and taking and receiving feedback effectively will help you advance quicker and connect with your team . 

Strong communicators also know how to check in with themselves and others so they’re always on the same wavelength. This means being self-aware , practicing empathy , and improving emotional regulation . Y ou can support others better if you understand your biases and triggers and can put yourself in their shoes.

2. Be a problem-solver

Your team will face challenges. Critical thinking and problem-solving are essential t o   collaborate effectively and overcome these hurdles. Be ready to suggest creative solutions when brainstorming with your colleagues.

3. Know your role (and your limits)

You should know what’s expected of you and how your role fits within the team. You should also be realistic about how much you can take on. Others depend on you, so make sure you can deliver.

4. Take initiative

Taking the initiative means helping prevent problems before they happen. It also means addressing them as soon as they appear, if and when they do. Be ready to spring into action before someone asks you to. Your initiative may inspire others to be more proactive. 

5. Stick to your deadlines

Someone is waiting for you to finish your work so they can do theirs. Use your time management skills so you don't let them down. This will make you a valuable and dependable team player.

6. Know your strengths

Most projects go through a planning phase where everyone’s assigned tasks. Be transparent about your abilities and help people understand how you can contribute. Ask for jobs that take advantage of your skillset .

7. Support and be supported

High-performing teams feel supported and validated by one another. Motivate your team by sharing positive feedback , expressing gratitude for their hard work , and asking them often if they need help. Just make sure you don’t take on more than you can chew.

8. Share information

Found a useful online resource? Send it to your team. Worked on similar projects before? Share your experience. This information exchange will help everyone produce better work and problem-solve difficult challenges easier.

9. Understand your team’s objectives

You can easily hinder progress toward shared goals if you don’t know about or comprehend them. Make sure you understand overall objectives to gain perspective on your tasks and understand how your work depends on others. 

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• Do I understand the company’s overall mission ?
• Does my manager know what I’m prioritizing and why?
• How do my deadlines affect my teammates’ progress?

10. Be open-minded

Teamwork is about bringing together a diverse set of individuals with unique perspectives and skills. Practice mental flexibility by being open to different approaches and techniques. You’ll learn something new and encourage your coworkers to share innovative ideas. 

With these tips in mind, you’re on your way to proving yourself as the ideal team player.

Being a good team player is about balancing leadership and collaboration. You’re a vital part of the team, even if you’re not the team lead.

Remember that no matter your role, you can’t build a successful team if you don’t trust each other. Your job is to help one another shine — and you don’t need to be a team leader to make that happen.

Being a follower

At work, you know how important it is to have a manager that can handle pressure while regulating their emotions and supporting their team. A good leader inspires a team to follow their example and keeps their door open for feedback. If you know that someone has your back, you might be more willing to take risks that can benefit the team. 

Even if you’re not in charge, you can demonstrate integrity and ambition. Your leadership skills can still shine through as you follow someone else’s lead. For example, offering solutions to problems as they arise is one way to show the spirit of leadership. 

Supporting your fellow team members is also key to being a great team player. Finally, make sure that you respect your manager and listen to what they have to say — but don’t be afraid to speak up if you have an idea that will help everyone out.

Being a leader

The more you embody the spirit of a leader, the better your team will perform . You should pay attention to everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. From there, you can help delegate tasks accordingly. Don’t try to exercise power over others. Instead, influence people to be self-motivated to do their best. 

Also, be sure to remain open to feedback from your team members. This will help everyone go about their work with confidence . 

Don’t micromanage your team, but don’t abandon them, either. Find the right balance, and your team will thank you for it.

There are plenty of difficult employees to go around. You will invariably have to work with one at some point in your career. Bad teammates hurt team morale, cause resentment  among group members, and overall sabotage the efficiency of the team.  

Here’s how to recognize a bad teammate — and make sure you don’t become one: 

1. They could care less

It feels impossible to motivate them . They don’t participate in team discussions, they’re inattentive, and they do the bare minimum to get through the day. They also produce poor-quality work.

2. Responsibility means nothing to them

They complain rather than propose solutions. They prefer to point fingers instead of sharing responsibility for a problem. If the entire group makes a mistake, poor teammates deny that they had anything to do with it.

3. It’s their way or the highway

They’re allergic to constructive criticism . They steamroll over other people’s ideas. They reject the possibility that others might have something to contribute.

4. Arrogance is their bliss

Bad colleagues dismiss other people’s ideas and double down on their point of view, even if they’re wrong. Their stubbornness brings the entire team down.

5. Jealousy comes naturally to them

Difficult coworkers are jealous when a colleague receives praise. They want to be the center of attention, even if that means bringing others down. They’ll be passive-aggressive toward that person and may even claim that person’s achievements as their own.

Working with a poor colleague can create a negative team environment . Thankfully, there are some things you can do : 

K eep a positive attitude

• Focus on your own achievements, as well as your teammates’ 
• Don’t take it personally
• Avoid working with them if you can
• Try to suggest amicable solutions to conflicts that arise

And, if they become truly unbearable, you can report them to your manager.

These days, it’s almost impossible to be a lone wolf. Nearly all jobs require working with people. Your approach and your attitude will determine whether others enjoy working with you. Be confident in your skills, use your voice, and support your colleagues. Your team will be lucky to have you. 

Learning how to be a good team player isn’t easy. Consider working with a mentor or coach who can hold you accountable along the way . They’ll work with you to set goals, develop your skills, and help you become the best team player you can be.

Lead with confidence and authenticity

Develop your leadership and strategic management skills with the help of an expert Coach.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

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Teamwork Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on teamwork.

Teamwork is working together of people to achieve a certain goal. Teamwork is the basic need for an organization to function. Furthermore, every organization has a division of several teams to perform specific tasks.

Without teamwork nothing is possible. Moreover, if any organization lacks teamwork. Then it will hamper its success rate. Thus the organization will fall. Also, it will affect the environment the people are working in.

Furthermore, the organization has a different hierarchy of teamwork. So that the workload gets divided. And each team has an expert who guides different team members with his prior experience

Hierarchy of Teamwork in an Organization

The organization has a division of three teams – Top Level, Middle Level, Lower Level

The Top Level: This team of the organization decides the goals of the company. Furthermore, they understand the need for different sectors of society. And makes policies to maximize the profit of the company. Moreover, it also works on the development of the company and its employees.

Every company has a certain goal in mind before making any policy. This part of the organization analyzes the goal. So that the company should be certain whether the approaching of this goal is profitable or not. For instance, this part of the organization consists of the Board of Directors , Chief Executive Officers Etc.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Middle Level: The middle level consists of the manager and the Supervisors . This team of workers focuses on the implementation of the policies made by the Top-level. Furthermore, the team assigns various tasks to the employee sector, so that they may work towards the goals of the company. Moreover, the Middle level inspects and keeps a regular check on their work.

In short, they bridge the gap between the top level and the middle level. In order to be a part of this team, a person should be qualified enough. Because this ensures that the person is having the knowledge of all the work he is assigning to the employees.

Only then the person would be capable enough to guide the lower level. Above all the main work is to meet the demands of the employee, so that the organization can work in a better way.

The Lower level: The Lower Level consists of the employees. They work on the tasks assigned to them by the Middle Level. The coordination of teamwork is much needed in the employment sector. As the need to submit each task within a period of time.

So that the organization may run smoothly. The base of the organization is the employment sector. As without them, the application of policies isn’t possible.

Importance of Teamwork

Teamwork has the greatest importance in any part of the world. Whether it be an organization or a small business. Teamwork is the key to success. In our schools, we play many sports that enlist teamwork.

Thus from our childhood only we knew about teamwork. Because our mentors understood the importance of teamwork. That is the reason they always guided us on the right path.

At last, the teamwork team generates a relationship between two people. As we all know that human is a social being, so it is beneficial for the environment of a person.

Q1. What is Teamwork?

A1. Teamwork is the working together of a group of people to accomplish a certain goal.

Q2. What is the importance of teamwork?

A2. Teamwork enlists a level of enthusiasm in a person. Moreover it essential to save time, as groups of people work on specific tasks. Which as a whole saves time to a higher extent. Also, it boosts the confidence of a person working in any organization.

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How to Be a Great Team Player

Maximizing your contribution to the team.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Have you worked for teams where everyone pitches in, and you all work together in perfect harmony? Do you always play to your strengths in a team, or are there times when the group you're in just doesn't gel?

Either way, teamworking is such a vital way of completing projects that it's worth developing and refining the skills that will help you make a valuable contribution to whichever type of team you're in.

Sports teams are perfect examples of how many players working together can achieve much more than one player who is acting alone. For example, you may not be the best goal scorer, but you're great at moving the ball forward. You know that if you pass that ball to the person who can score, the team has a better chance of winning. Everyone on the team plays a different role, according to their strengths – and by helping and encouraging one another along the way, you can make some inspiring things happen.

Off the sports pitch and back in the workplace, we hear the term "good team player" a lot. But what does it really mean in a business context? What do leaders want from team members, and how can you make a more significant contribution to your team?

These are some of the questions we address in this article. We show you what makes a good team player, and we offer some tips on how to make a bigger contribution in the future.

The Importance of Great Team Players

Teams are created for several reasons. They may need to deliver a one-time project or work together on an ongoing basis. Either way, if you take advantage of a group's collective energy and creativity, the team can accomplish much more in less time.

What does this mean for you? Well, teams are probably an integral part of how things are done in your organization. If you show that you have the ability to work well with others, this could have a major impact on your career.

How to Become a Great Team Player

Being a valuable team member can open new career opportunities, as leaders may see firsthand what a great job you're doing. You may even be asked to bring your strengths into play in another team setting – and in higher profile, business-critical projects.

This is why learning to be a good team player is so important. If you make a good impression, you never know what possibilities might open for you. The following five ideas will make you stand out as a top team player.

Use Your Strengths

Do you know what you do best?

Perhaps you're incredibly organized. Or, you might excel at motivating people, helping resolve disagreements, or researching hard-to-find information.

Whatever your strengths, you have something valuable to offer. Find a role within your team that allows you to do what you do well. This will help you make a meaningful contribution – and increase your chances of doing a great job. Plus, it's usually much easier, and more satisfying, to do tasks when you're naturally good at them.

Teams usually come together to handle an issue that's difficult, if not impossible, for people to do on their own. When a group works well together, creativity levels are generally higher, as people tap into one another's strengths.

This often leads to increased productivity, and an inspiring sense of collaboration and cooperation that moves everyone – and the project – forward.

The most successful teams don't just combine different technical skills; they also allow members to take on more general roles that cross traditional functional lines.

Here, we've outlined three different models, which show you what these roles are. If you'd like to know more – or to help you discover which roles are best for you – then click on the links below.

Belbin's Team Roles

The Belbin model says that people tend to assume "team roles" – and there are nine such roles that underlie the team's success. [1] These roles are as follows:

• Shapers – people who challenge the team to improve.
• Implementers – people who get things done.
• Completer-Finishers – the people who see that projects are completed thoroughly.
• Coordinators – people who take on the traditional team leader role.
• Team Workers – people who are negotiators, and make sure the team is working together.
• Resource Investigators – people who work with external stakeholders to help the team meet its objectives.
• Plants – people who come up with new ideas and approaches.
• Monitor-Evaluators – people who analyze and evaluate ideas that other people come up with.
• Specialists – people with specialist knowledge that's needed to get the job done.

Team leaders use the Belbin model to make sure there is the right balance of strengths and weaknesses on their team.

Benne and Sheats' Group Roles

This is an interesting way of looking at group roles that identifies both positive and negative behavior within a group. [2] Some people are helpful and supportive, some people just want to get the job done, and some cause disagreement within the team.

There are 26 different group roles, which can be played by one or more people within the team. Those roles are divided into the following categories:

• Task Roles – the roles needed to take a project step-by-step through to completion. Roles include Information Seeker, Opinion Giver, and Evaluator/Critic.
• Personal and/or Social Roles – these roles help the group function well, and include Encourager, Compromiser, and Gatekeeper/Expediter.
• Dysfunctional and/or Individualistic Roles – these roles cause discord in the group, and can disrupt progress. The roles include Aggressor, Dominator, and Recognition Seeker.

Margerison-McCann Team Management Profile

The Team Management Profile is a psychometric tool used for team development. It measures people's preferences for gathering information, relating to others, making decisions, and organizing themselves and others.

The eight role preferences are:

• Reporter/Adviser – people who gather information, and help others understand what's going on.
• Creator/Innovator – people who look for different ways to view things.
• Explorer/Promoter – persuasive people who are able to influence others easily.
• Assessor/Developer – people who evaluate and analyze.
• Thruster/Organizer – results-oriented people who make things happen.
• Concluder/Producer – efficient individuals who complete activities according to plan, and on schedule.
• Controller/Inspector – the "facts and figures" people who control the details, and make sure standards are met.
• Upholder/Maintainer – people who hold the team together, looking after the emotional and social needs of the group.

There is also a "linker" role, to coordinate everyone's work, which is generally carried out by the team leader.

Understand the Team's Objectives

On the occasions that teams don't function well, it's often because there's a lack of communication and understanding about what the group's objectives are.

If you want to be a good team player, make sure you understand the group's goals. Ask key questions like these:

• Why are we here?
• What is the "perfect ending" to this project?
• What is our deadline?
• How often will we meet?
• What is our budget?
• Who is in charge of implementing our ideas?
• What roles and responsibilities will each of us have?

Be clear about what you're there to do. This will help you complete your tasks to the best of your abilities.

Be Reliable

We've probably all worked with people who have made promises they didn't keep. It's frustrating when someone says one thing and does another, and it can really slow a group's progress.

You can be a valuable asset to your team simply by delivering what you said you would do – on time. For some people, it's all too easy (and, unfortunately, quite common) to make promises they can't keep.

But you may really surprise and impress people by following through on what you say you'll do. If you commit to completing something for the group by the end of the day, make sure you do it. If you say you'll attend the 3:30 p.m. meeting, don't be late.

Being reliable also applies to the work you do for the group. If you have high standards, people will depend on you to produce quality work. If your output is excellent one day, but only average the next, the team may regard you as being unreliable.

Be a Good Communicator

Be involved and active within the group. If you sit silently while someone else discusses an idea that you know won't work, you could damage the team's chances of achieving its outcomes. If you've got an alternative suggestion that might be more effective, then share it with the group.

The opposite applies as well: if people discuss a plan that you think is great, then speak up. Tell them what an inspiring idea you think it is. They might really need and appreciate your support, even if they don't show it.

When you communicate with your team members – whether showing support or challenging their thinking – it's important to stay positive and respectful. Even if you disagree with someone, don't become emotional. Being objective and fair will make a good impression; getting upset and angry won't.

Stay Flexible

If you've ever worked with a team, you know that things can change quickly. People may join or leave the group, budgets may be reduced, or goals may be redefined.

The best team players know how to be flexible. They don't fight change – instead, they see it as a new opportunity for growth.

You may find that the group members, the approaches you use, and the goals you started with have all changed by the time you've finished. By staying flexible, you can take advantage of the new opportunities that arise during the project, and you'll be able to help others do the same.

Your willingness to remain comfortable and positive in a constantly changing environment is an important business skill – and your boss will likely notice.

Tips for Being a Good Team Member

• Don't cherry-pick projects . It can be tempting to choose only those projects that seem easier, or ones that offer more benefits. But if you choose more difficult projects, and accept what's offered to you, you'll earn a reputation for being a hard worker. Your boss will notice your willingness to take on a challenge, and it will pay off in the long term.
• Support other people on your team . Offer positive feedback, and provide help if colleagues need it. Your willingness to collaborate and help others will make a good impression on both the group and upper management.
• Share information and resources with your team . Remember, you're all there for one purpose – and by keeping everyone informed, you contribute to that goal. If you have past experiences or knowledge that can help others, then offer it. They'll appreciate the help.
• Keep a positive attitude . If you complain, delay, or give the tough assignments to others, people will notice – and they may start to avoid you. A positive attitude can be a refreshing change, and it will help others stay focused and productive as well.

Being a good team player isn't always easy. Teams are usually created to solve difficult problems, and they often have tight deadlines and strict budgets. But this can be your chance to shine. Look at teamwork as not only a challenge but a great opportunity.

Help your team by using your strengths, clearly understanding your role, and staying flexible and reliable until the project is completed. Be positive, and help others as much as you can.

By being cooperative and willing to work hard, you'll make a good impression on everyone – including your boss.

[1] Belbin Associates (2012). 'Belbin Team Roles' [online]. Available  here . [Accessed 19 May 2022.]

[2] Benne, K. and Sheats, P. (1948) 'Functional Roles of Group Members,' Journal of Social Sciences , Vol. 4, Issue 2. Available here .[Accessed 19 May 2022.]

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The importance of teamwork (as proven by science)

Healthy teams enjoy benefits that go far beyond the company’s bottom line.

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5-second summary

• Research shows that collaborative problem-solving leads to better outcomes.
• People are more likely to take calculated risks that lead to innovation if they have the support of a team behind them.
• Working in a team encourages personal growth, increases job satisfaction, and reduces stress.

Anyone who thought the rise of distributed work would be the downfall of teamwork has probably changed their tune by now. The truth is, teamwork is more important than ever.

“The use of teams and collaboration expectations have been consistently rising,” says Dr. Scott Tannenbaum , a researcher and president of the Group for Organizational Effectiveness. “And when I say teams, I’m talking about all types of teams, whether it’s stable work teams [or] teams that now, in the current environment, are operating virtually.”

Teamwork is essential to a company’s success, says John J. Murphy, author of Pulling Together: 10 Rules for High-Performance Teamwork . “Each individual has unique gifts, and talents and skills. When we bring them to the table and share them for a common purpose, it can give companies a real competitive advantage.”

But here’s the real magic of teamwork: when done right, it has benefits that go far beyond boosting the company’s bottom line. (Learn about some classic models that can lead to stronger teamwork here .)

10 benefits of teamwork

1. teamwork enables better problem solving.

How to avoid groupthink on your team

Albert Einstein gets all the credit for discovering the theory of relativity, but the truth is that he relied on conversations with friends and colleagues to refine his concept. And that’s almost always the case.

“Behind every genius is a team,” says Murphy. “When people play off each other’s skills and knowledge, they can create solutions that are practical and useful.”

Science reinforces the idea that many brains are better than one. “We found that groups of size three, four, and five outperformed the best individuals,” says Dr. Patrick Laughlin a researcher at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “[We] attribute this performance to the ability of people to work together to generate and adopt correct responses, reject erroneous responses, and effectively process information.”

Not everyone processes information in the same way. Some people like to jump into problem-solving mode immediately, while others prefer time to gather their thoughts and consider multiple options before making a contribution. Asking people to provide input asynchronously allows everyone the space to work in a way that’s comfortable for them.

2. Teamwork unlocks potential for innovation

According to Frans Johansson, author of The Medici Effect , some of the most innovative ideas happen at “the intersection” – the place where ideas from different industries and cultures collide.

“Most people think success comes from surrounding yourself with others that are like you,” says Johansson. “But true success and breakthrough innovation involves discomfort. Discomfort pushes you to grow. This is where difference of experience, opinion, and perspective come in. Diversity is a well-documented pathway to unlocking new opportunities, overcoming new challenges, and gaining new insights.”

Better together: 8 essential teamwork skills to master

A recent report from the consulting firm McKinsey & Company backs this up. It found teams made up of members from diverse backgrounds (gender, age, ethnicity, etc.) are more creative and perform better by up to 35 percent, compared to more homogeneous teams. Instead of looking at an issue from your individual vantage point, you get a 360-degree picture, which can lead to an exponential increase in ideas.

Research from Tufts University suggests that just being exposed to diversity can shift the way you think. A study on a diverse mock jury found that interacting with individuals who are different forces people to be more open minded, and to expect that reaching consensus will take effort.

3. Teamwork makes for happier employees

As part of our ongoing research on teamwork, we surveyed more than 1,000 team members across a range of industries and found that when honest feedback, mutual respect, and personal openness were encouraged, team members were 80 percent more likely to report higher emotional well-being.

Having happy employees is a worthwhile goal in itself, but the company benefits, too. Research from the University of Warwick in England suggests happy employees are up to 20 percent more productive than unhappy employees. And who couldn’t benefit from a happiness boost?

4. Teamwork enhances personal growth

Being part of a team can help you grow. “By sharing information and essentially cross-training each other, each individual member of the team can flourish,” says Murphy. You might discover new concepts from colleagues with different experiences. You can also learn from someone else’s mistakes, which helps you sidestep future errors.

You might even learn something new about yourself, says Dr. Susan McDaniel, a psychologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center and one of the guest editors of America Psychologist’s special edition on “ The Science of Teamwork .”

“We all have blind spots about our behaviors and strengths that we may be unaware of, and feedback from a team member can expose them,” she says. Recognizing these strengths and addressing the weaknesses can make you a better team member, and even a better person. “Maybe working in a team you’ll discover you could be a better listener. That’s a skill you can grow in, and then take home and use to improve your family interactions,” McDaniel points out.

5. Teamwork lowers the risk of burnout

6 ways to bounce back from burnout

A Gallup study of nearly 7,500 full-time employees found that 23 percent of employees feel burned out at work very often or always. Another 44 percent say they sometimes feel this way. What helps? Sharing the load.

Team members can provide emotional support to each other because they often understand the demands and stress of completing work even better than managers, says Ben Wigert, lead researcher for Gallup’s workplace management practice.

And managers are not off the hook! The study also found that knowing your boss has your back protects against burnout too.

6. Teamwork gives opportunities for growth

Collaboration in the workplace isn’t unlike teamwork on the baseball diamond. When the pitcher and outfielders each excel at their individual roles, the team has a better chance of winning.

Off the playing field, that idea is more important than ever. Changes in technology and increased globalization mean that organizations are facing problems so complex that a single individual simply can’t possess all the necessary knowledge to solve them, says Wigert. When team members use their unique skills to shine in their own roles, it creates an environment based on mutual respect and cooperation that benefits the whole group, notes Murphy.

7. Teamwork boosts productivity

Getting a pat on the back from the boss can boost an employee’s motivation, but receiving kudos from a team member may be even more effective.

The TINYpulse Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture Report surveyed more than 200,000 employees. Participants reported that having the respect of their peers was the #1 reason they go the extra mile at work.

8. Teamwork allows for smarter risk-taking

When you work alone, you might be hesitant to put your neck on the line. When you work on a team, you know you have the support of the entire group to fall back on in case of failure. That security typically allows teams to take the kind of risks that create “Eureka!” ideas.

But here’s one place where size does matter. The most disruptive ideas often come from small teams, suggests recent research in the journal Nature , possibly because larger teams argue more, which can get in the way of coming up with those big ideas.

Wharton Business School researchers also discovered that small is the secret to success: they found that two-person teams took 36 minutes to build a Lego figure while four-person teams took 52 minutes to finish — more than 44 percent longer.

There’s no definitive ideal small team size, but consider following Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ two-pizza rule : no matter how large your company gets, teams shouldn’t be larger than what two pizzas can feed.

9. Teamwork yields fewer mistakes

If your team has good energy – you encourage and inspire each other, and you have fun together – you’ll feel less stressed, says Murphy. “Studies show that stress makes us stupid, and leads us to make more mistakes,” says Murphy.

Of course, the converse is also true: when your team feels less frazzled, you’ll make fewer errors. That’s worth keeping in mind, especially if you’re one of the 61 percent of workers who cite work as a significant source of stress .

10. Teamwork sparks creativity

Stale solutions often come out of working in a vacuum. When people with different perspectives come together in group brainstorms, on the other hand, innovative ideas can rise to the surface – with one caveat. Research shows this can only happen when communication within the team is open and collaborative, notes Wigert. The most creative solutions can only come up when there’s a level of trust that lets team members ask ‘stupid’ questions, propose out-there ideas, and receive constructive criticism.  

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Team Leadership: Essential Features & Problems Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

What is leadership?

Leadership is an art of managing and developing strategies to be followed in an organization: the success of an organization depends on the quality of leaders; managerial decisions are the driving force of an organization. Leaders have the role of shaping and guiding an organization to its path to success. The structure of well-organized organization has leadership at different levels, from the chief executive officer who can be seen as the entire organizational leader to micro teams leaders.

At all these levels, leaders need to make decisions that are responsive to the situation that the organization is going through. Their decisions must be timely and effective. Other than making business decisions, leaders have the task of managing their team members to the attainment of the set team goals and objectives. The attainment of team goals leads to the attainment of organizational goals and objectives; leadership is imperative for making a group into an orchestrate team (Parker, 2009).

One of the major roles of a manager is to mentor and develop human resources in his organization; they need to understand the potential that their company has and devise mechanisms to develop and tap intellectualism in the human resources. Every human resource has some potential in him that need to be developed, natured and exploited; it is the work of leaders to undertake these roles. Talents within a team need to be managed effectively to facilitate innovation and invention; this is how a team leader can have orchestrate robust team.

Leadership traits

Although different teams need different management approaches, there are some common characteristics that team managers should posses. Great team leaders understand and appreciate that the attainment of a team’s goals is pegged on the human resources a d their productivity; they thus are willing to empower and create good working environments such that the team can attain its set goals and objectives.

Team members, as a pre-requisite before individual contribution, should feel appreciated and welcomed by the group environment that they are working in, the manager thus has the role of creating a conducive environment for team members to feel at motivated make decisions.

Despite that team leaders are the controlling point, they need to have the passion and the will to conduct their businesses effectively. They should understand that one of the strongest attribute of leader is the ability to serve other. Team leaders should have the heart and will to serve other; to be an effective server, then one need to have perfect communication and listening skills strengthened by wisdom, knowledge and intelligence.

Team members see the leaders as their role model and they envy to be like him in one way or another: they are more willing to work and be loyal to leader who is enthusiastic, energetic, and inspirational and one who leads by an example. Though the above attributes can be argued to be inborn traits, a manager can develop them alongside his career.

Different issues emerge in an organization: they need to have someone who will own up the issues so as the healing process can start. Managers should assume this role: when challenges occur or they are under pressure, they should be composed enough to handle the situation and pioneer the process to change management of the entire situation. They should be honest admitting their mistakes and at the same time, they should be bold enough to say when they are not able to do something.

Managers vs. Leaders

The difference between leaders and managers is minimal however, it appears on how they handle situations; mangers manage tasks, thus he offers instructions and requires them handled whereas leaders manage people, this means that he involves people in business decisions.

One of the major functions of a leader is to motivate his team; however, we are all motivated differently. It is only by understandings of his team members that he can effectively motivate them. It is important to note that a good leader is a good manager, but it is not always the case that a good manager is a good leader.

What differentiates a leader and a manager is that a leader understands his team members, one at a time and thus blends them for the best result; the success of a team is vested on how well the strengths and weaknesses of the team member are combined. There are different styles of leadership and a leader should be sharp enough to know the best style to adopt in different situations (Margerison, 2002).

What is Teamwork?

Teamwork in an organization refers to a joint action of human resources in an organization with the aim of attaining certain common goal. When a company has embraced the spirit of teamwork, every employee works to the benefit of the entire organization and finds his task important in the attainment of corporate goals and objectives. Corporate missions and vision are attained if a company adapts to the spirit of teamwork.

What makes an Effective Team?

The definition of team is wide and covers different aspects; however, a team can be defined as a group of people with a common objective to meet within a certain period work. They range from small teams of two people to an entire organization can be referred to as a team.

When working in team, team members work for the general good of the organization and the team; organizations are run through different teams that are made to meet certain corporate objectives. To effectively manage and attain results, team manager’s roles are required; a team manager is mandated with the task of coordinating and ensuring that things are flowing within a team; he is involved in daily activities of the team but is the reference point in the team.

Their major roles can be classified as technical, functional, problem solving and human resourcing. An effective team leader should posses strong leadership skills as well as be expert communicator and listener. The performance of teams is influenced by the efficiency and the capability that its management has.

Building a Team

Teams are made from available human resources and sourcing for external human resources. When developing a team, the initial point is defining the task, then interpolating the resources that a company has. The available internal resources should be scrutinized and enforced by other experts if they do not have the capacity.

The task that need to be accomplished should be analyzed, objective and goals set; with the task understanding and understanding the potential at hand, then managers blend the resources effectively to the benefit of the task. Different personalities, expertise, age and experiences should be combined and team leader elected.

Benefits of team work

When a company adopts the policy of teamwork, then corporate goals and objectives are attained effectively; there is a higher likelihood that the organization will fulfill its corporate goals and objectives. With team spirit, employees are highly motivated and willing to use their experience and intellectualism for the benefit of the organization.

Such firms enjoy staffs invention and innovation, as staffs are willing to go an extra mile for the benefit of the company. When people are working as a team, they develop efficient routes of doing business, which is to the benefit of a firm, the firms enjoy a low operating cost.

Essential features of a team

An effectively managed team has some basic features; these features are:

• They have a self-drive towards the attainment if the team’s goals; when every member is making a decision, he/she does so with the welfare of the team at the back of the decision.
• Team members are highly motivated and are willing to improve other member’s intellectual knowledge.
• They have a common drive/objective/goal and work to the attainment of the goals in the most effective manner
• They are loyal to the group and have concern for each other social well being

There is team spirit supported by good communication among them; members respect their team leader, on the other hand, team leader involve members in decision-making (Lewis, 2004)

Team problem

When managing teams, there are problems that arise from time to time; such problems may be classified as personal problems, institutional and leadership problems. People have different personalities, thus they may have different standpoints and views on a certain issue, when this happens they may have conflicts amongst themselves. The situation may be even worse when one of the party’s standpoints is supported by the larger team, this bleeds unhealthy competition within a team.

The fulfillment of a team’s objective is dependent with the resources available, sometimes an organization may face resources shortage hampering the success of a team, at the end of the day, the team may be forced to worker extra hard to fulfill the goals initially set. This demand may create problems within a team.

Communication is one of the major problems of teams; when a team fail to have an effective communication strategy, then it is likely to fall into problems. Communication among the team-members and the team leader or top management should be effective and involving. Team leaders have the role of establishing any chance of problem and handle the situation before the problem erupts (Crother-Laurin, 2006).

Team leaders have the role of developing orchestrate teams from groups in an organization; their decisions and the way they exercise their leadership power determines the success of the team. One major attribute that leads to success of a team is effective communication method; team leaders have the role of developing an effective communication strategy. When a company has effective team’s chances of attainment of the corporate goals are high. An orchestrate team has a high team spirit and adopts the policy of teamwork.

Crother-Laurin, C. ,2006. Effective Teams: A Symptom of Healthy Leadership . The Journal for Quality and Participation , 29(3), p. 4.

Lewis, P. ,2004. Team-Based Project Management . Washington: Beard Books.

Margerison, C., 2002. Team leadership . Gale: Cengage Learning.

Parker, G. ,2009. Team Leadership: 20 Proven Tools for Success . New Jersey: Human Resource Development Press.

• John F. Kennedy's Tragedy
• “The Corporation” a Film by Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan
• Effects of Decentralization on Attainment of Firms Objectives
• Leadership Management in the Hospitality Industry
• Business Operations Planning
• The evolution of McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y in relation to the development of management theory
• Leadership Concepts: Kentucky Fried Chicke
• The Organization Structure of Training2Work
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, February 20). Team Leadership: Essential Features & Problems. https://ivypanda.com/essays/team-leadership/

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IvyPanda . 2019. "Team Leadership: Essential Features & Problems." February 20, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/team-leadership/.

1. IvyPanda . "Team Leadership: Essential Features & Problems." February 20, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/team-leadership/.

Bibliography

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By Dave Touhill

Dave Touhill

Contributing Writer

Dr. Dave has developed the marketing strategies for some of the fastest growing brands in the world and has his...

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Updated May 11, 2023

The Ideal Team Player: How to Grow an Effective Team

The three essential virtues of a team player , understanding the various work personas, team players who lack two or more qualities , group members who need to improve one virtue, strategies for growing into a great team player, maintaining a culture of ideal team players.

Do you know the qualities individuals need to be an ideal team player? According to the best-selling author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Patrick Lencioni, most business leaders know being an effective team player is incredibly important. Nevertheless, they’re unable to identify the exact characteristics that allow someone to positively influence team dynamics. It is this lack of knowledge that makes great team players a rarity in most organizations. As a result, teams become dysfunctional, ineffective, unproductive, and even volatile. 

The Ideal Team Player book solves this problem by pointing out the three key qualities a person needs to be an integral part of an effective team: humility, hunger, and intelligence. In addition to this, he teaches leaders how to build team players when an employee is lacking one or two of these critical qualities.

Below, check out a breakdown of Lencioni’s book of five dysfunctions at work. You’ll also learn the three virtues of an ideal team player and how to grow these characteristics among your team members. 

Humble Hungry Smart

Using his traditional form of storytelling through fable and referencing characters like Jeff Shanley and Kathryn Petersen, Patrick Lencioni, founder of The Table Group, explains true ideal team players must be humble, hungry, and smart. When businesses have team players with these characteristics, members feel an increase in trust, conflict resolution , commitment, accountability, and results. Because of this, companies that hire and grow team players will more likely accomplish the business’s mission and experience success because employees are in an environment where team culture thrives. The qualities listed develop over time, meaning they aren’t simply achieved. It’s something dedicated team players will constantly work to maintain, most commonly under the direction of their leaders. 

Virtue #1—Humble

The first trait of a great team player is humility. Lencioni defines humility using a C.S. Lewis quote: “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” Of all the qualities, the author says this is “the most indispensable attribute of being an effective team player.” Rather than vying with others for attention and recognition, humble people focus on what will best serve the team. Additionally, they’d rather focus on how the team worked together to achieve a goal. Lencioni explains, “They are quick to point out the contributions of others and slow to seek attention for their own. They share credit, emphasize team over self, and define success collectively rather than individually.”

When a person has humility, they:

• Don’t boast or show an excessive amount of pride in accomplishments
• Look for opportunities to shine the light on others’ achievements
• Think with a group mentality when it comes to success
• Remove themselves from being the center of the conversation
• Receive recognition without pandering for more attention

Virtue #2—Hungry

The next virtue Lencioni discusses is hunger. When a person is hungry to learn, succeed, and serve, it is obvious. Their passion, drive, dedication, and desire to become better are visible to leaders and other people on the team. Hunger stems from within—it is a form of self-motivation that compels people to keep growing and improving over time. Instead of resting upon their laurels, hungry people feel the internal need to keep leveling up. They are always progressing toward reaching their full potential. “Hungry people are always looking for more” and “almost never have to be pushed by a manager to work harder because they are self-motivated and diligent,” he writes. 

Individuals who are hungry:

• Strive for excellence in everything they do
• Create a culture of taking the lead without being asked
• Aren’t only satisfied with past accomplishments
• Carry their weight and hate the idea of letting the team down
• Ask how they can improve and grow
• Seek mentorship and learning opportunities 

Virtue #3—Smart

Finally, Patrick Lencioni says ideal team players are smart. When describing what he means by this, he says being “smart” on a team isn’t about who is the most “book smart.” His definition revolves more around emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. For instance, he writes, “Smart people tend to know what is happening in a group situation and how to deal with others in the most effective way. They ask good questions, listen to what others are saying, and stay engaged in conversations intently.” In essence, those who aren’t “people smart” cannot be great team players because they aren’t aware of how to positively interact with others. 

Team players who are smart in the way Lencioni says is important:

• Focus on increasing their emotional intelligence 
• Have a growth mindset that pursues learning opportunities
• Show self-awareness and social awareness when working with others
• Use common sense
• Consider how their words, actions, and behaviors affect the group
• Seek to positively influence others instead of clamoring for authority

Lencioni says more often than not team players show weakness in one or two of these three categories . He suggests that when a person lacks specific qualities, it results in a distinct and easily recognizable work persona. Knowing these different personas can help leaders identify them in employees and potential hires. Doing so can help employers better determine whether a job candidate can grow into a great team player and be a successful hire . Additionally, recognizing where current team members need to develop is important in building a strong team culture. 

Those who need a significant amount of development have one or none of the three qualities of ideal team players. When it comes to hiring, understand these people will need more coaching and training. Unless you’re willing to put in the necessary time and effort, it’s best to not add people who lack one or two of the necessary qualities to a powerful team. If you already have a team member who falls under one of these personas, keep reading for a list of strategies in growing the three various virtues. 

Humble Only: The Pawn

Patrick Lencioni calls people who are only humble, “The Pawn.” Because they lack hunger and smarts, they’re easily malleable and manipulated. They lack initiative and need to be told what to do. In the game of chess, a pawn is the least valuable piece on the board. This is a representation of how they are viewed on teams. While they don’t stir the pot or cause conflict, they also don’t feed into a collaborative team environment. Ultimately, they’re the person who stays quiet and rarely contributes but is fine with being assigned work.

Hungry Only: The Bulldozer 

Those who are only hungry are deemed bulldozers. While bulldozers are designed to make way for new development, they’re also destructive. When people lack humility and smarts their egos end up plowing over everything in their path because they don’t understand team dynamics. Sure, they might get things done, but at what expense? People with this persona are typically everyone’s least favorite team member. They’re obnoxious, they need to be right, act without thinking, and warrant a lot of damage control. 

Smart Only: The Charmer

When a person is only emotionally intelligent, they’re called charmers. While they provide a source of entertainment and can be a joy to be around, they’re not reliable. Because they lack humility and hunger, they’ll often think they’re “too good” to take on certain jobs and leave others in a bind. Being the life of the party or a source of emotional support is their forte. Nevertheless, they wind up irritating and frustrating employees with a poor work ethic and need for attention. 

Finding team members who are well versed in all the virtues is rare. More than likely, hired team players have a natural aptitude for two of the skills. Yet, they lack one of the characteristics because they aren’t aware of what qualities they should be growing. If you identify a few recognizable personas, know these types of people are easier to grow into ideal team players. They just need more awareness about where they need to grow and how.

Humble and Hungry: The Accidental Mess Maker 

Lencioni labels people who are humble and hungry as accidental mess makers. With this persona, team members will respect how motivated they are. They mean well, and sincerely care about fulfilling the company’s mission, serving others, and organizational health. But, how they go about this isn’t always wise. They’re the classic “think before you speak” type, which can negatively affect interpersonal relationships in the business. Gaining more emotional intelligence is a must in order for them to develop into real team players. 

Hungry and Smart: The Skillful Politician 

The skillful politician persona lacks humility but excels in hunger and smarts. Unfortunately, the source of their drive is self-serving. If they work hard, it isn’t on behalf of the team or customers. It’s because somewhere along the line, they’ve learned to be valued for what they can achieve. It is this recognition and acknowledgment they seek. They negatively impact team dynamics due to their competitiveness: They want to be considered the MVP. Ultimately, they need to get out of their fixed mindset and learn that serving on a team isn’t about winning a trophy.

Humble and Smart: The Lovable Slacker

Finally, the loveable slacker persona has all the interpersonal qualities needed for being an effective team player. Yet, they lack drive. Typically, this person is well-liked by co-workers and leaders. They’re great at fostering healthy relationships, but they present a problem when goals must be met. For example, they might consistently ask to extend deadlines or do the bare minimum of their job function. In order to get serious about being a great team player, they must connect with a source of internal motivation.  

Consistent development in the three virtues is the key to creating ideal team players. Providing mentorship opportunities, reviewing leadership books together, recognizing areas of growth, practicing team leadership skills , and discussing places where more is required are all strategies leaders can use to help improve team dynamics. When working on specific qualities, check out the suggestions listed below. 

Increasing Humility  

Deep-rooted insecurities cause the hunt for constant validation and approval, thus the need to boast. Ask employees struggling with this quality about their fears. Get to the heart of what is making them trample on or bypass the recognition of others. Are they afraid they’ll become less visible if someone else shines? Why does this matter? Keep asking “why” until you figure out the root of the issue. Listen, be supportive, and help the person work through the problems causing their behavior.

Another way to strengthen humility is by modeling it. As a leader, you need to demonstrate qualities you do value and want to see more of. Show your team what it is like to serve with a humble heart—teach them servant leadership . Let it be known this attitude is the status quo of your organization.

Maximizing Hunger  

Employees without passion and hunger aren’t happy ones. People want a purpose. One of the best ways to boost a person’s hunger is to align their purpose with the organization’s purpose. What made them join the company? Who did they hope to serve? Where is the disconnect? What will help them feel their work has meaning? Maybe they once had a purpose, but they’re experiencing burnout .

Another way to increase hunger is by providing more clarity. To feel excited about work, people need a source of direction, inspiration, and motivation from their leaders. Explain your vision and discuss how it correlates to each person’s purpose. Use a project management system to assign tasks. This helps to give employees an exciting, purpose-driven mission that they can successfully execute on behalf of the business. 

Strengthening Smarts

A person’s emotional quotient (EQ), measured by their emotional intelligence (EI), can grow over time. This requires work in four specific quadrants: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management. To help employees increase their EI, acknowledge the exact area they need to grow in. Be honest and let them know how it impacts the team. For instance, this might look like saying, “It’s become noticeable in meetings that you’re quick to make sarcastic comments when you feel like someone disagrees with you. This has caused a rift with some team members. For this reason, it’s something we need to work on to keep a healthy work environment.”

Work one-on-one with employees who struggle with interpersonal skills. Let them know appropriate courses of action and how you, as a leader, would navigate these situations. In addition, there are plenty of resources online and in-person for growing emotional intelligence. This includes taking online courses, reading a book review, listening to podcasts , going to conferences, and watching videos. 

Allot an hour or two each week for education on any of the missing qualities. At the beginning of team meetings, have individuals share what they’ve learned. This encourages the team to grow together, rather than pursuing growth in isolation. 

Patrick Lencioni wrote The Ideal Team Player to help leaders learn how to create effective teams by focusing on the three virtues every individual team member needs to eliminate dysfunction. Growing these qualities of a person begins during the hiring process . Start by asking pointed, direct questions that gauge a person’s ability to be humble, hungry, and smart. For instance, a great team player interview question on humility might look like, “What role does recognition and acknowledgment play on a team?” Look for an answer that shows they’re thinking about what it means for team members, rather than themselves. In addition to this, spend time asking specific questions around each virtue when discussing the candidate with their references. 

In addition to this, create an environment where being an effective team player is an organizational requirement. Write it into your business’s values. Introduce the three virtues during onboarding, explain what they mean, and set expectations for ensuring people grow in these areas. Recognize when individuals show humility, hunger, and smarts. Point out why they serve as a great example of the type of behavior essential to strong team dynamics. For those who violate the three virtues—hold them accountable . Explain why it’s important they meet company values. It is time well spent to teach a team what these qualities look like in action.

Interested in more tips for building a strong team culture and growing top leadership qualities?

Check out this article next: Leadership Qualities: 25 Traits of Effective Leaders

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101 Words to Describe a Team Player (Team Player Examples)

A team player is a person who keeps their eye on achieving team goals and will prioritize meeting group goals over personal ambition.

For example, in basketball, a team player would be the player who passes the ball to a stronger shooter to take the shot. They could have taken the glory for themselves but decided to do what was best for the team’s overall success.

Team players are desirable in modern workplaces because we are increasingly working in teams to get projects completed. Employers want to find workers who have a team spirit and are not just in it for themselves.

Words to Describe a Team Player

• Accepting of Difference
• Accepting of Others
• Accommodating
• Approachable
• Big Picture Thinker
• Collaborative
• Community Minded
• Compassionate
• Conciliatory
• Conscientious
• Consensus builder
• Considerate
• Constructive
• Consultative
• Contributor
• Conversational
• Conversationalist
• Cooperative
• Coordinator
• Culturally competent
• Culturally inclusive
• Culturally sensitive
• Deferential
• Diplomatic Skills
• Emotionally intelligent
• Encouraging
• Fair-Minded
• Good Humored
• Good Rapport
• Group goal oriented
• Hard Working
• Interactive
• Interpersonal intelligence
• Motivational
• Open-minded
• Participatory
• People Person
• Pluralistic
• Self-sacrificing
• Servant leader
• Socially inclusive
• Team-minded
• Transformational leader
• Trustworthy
• Willing to Share

15 Examples of Team Players

• Michael Collins, who stayed aboard Apollo 11 to man the command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon.
• Tour de France team cyclists who do the tour knowing that it’s all about supporting the team leader to win, not themselves.
• The mentor who gives support and advice to their protege and celebrates their successes without ever asking for anything else in return.
• The footballer who passes the ball to a stronger kicker rather than taking a shot at goal himself.
• A restaurant employee who switches shifts with a colleague who has fallen ill.
• A supermarket employee who sees something that needs to be done and does it, even though it’s not technically their responsibility, because it is helpful and constructive to do the task anyway.
• A staff member who sees their colleague struggling so they give them tips rather than just watching them struggle.
• The boss who sees their staff are overworked and exhausted so she stops what she’s doing and starts helping the staff members in their tasks.
• A student who compromises on their ideas in a group project so other students’ ideas can also be included.
• A team member who takes on the less prestigious team role because they recognize another team member really wants to do it.
• The friend who brings extra cutlery to a group picnic because they assume some people will forget.
• The baseball player who cheers on every one of their friends as they walk up to the pitch to get the team excited.
• The team member who finished their share of the work but stayed behind in the office to help slower team members finish.
• The husband who left behind his job to move cities so his wife could follow her dreams.
• A friend who agrees to delay their preferred activity until next week so their friend could enjoy their preferred activity this week.

Team Player Resume Statements

If you are asked to show how you are a team player in a resume (see: my resume skills guide ), make sure you provide examples, evidence, and anecdotes attesting to your success in teams.

Demonstrate your teamwork skills through stories.

For example, here is a cover letter paragraph about a team player applying for an entry-level job after they completed their degree:

“Throughout my college degree, I excelled at group work. Frequently, I would find myself taking a support role for peers. I most enjoyed environments where I would work with my team in open-plan spaces such as libraries and cafes. In these environments, we could shoot each other questions or discuss bottlenecks in real time to help propel each other forward.”

In another example, we see a person applying for a leadership role. Here, they highlight how their leadership style emphasizes team over self:

“In previous leadership roles, I have noticed that my teams excel when I find ways to give each team member agency and space to take control over aspects of projects. By giving members of my teams leadership over their own projects, I find I can inspire and motivate them. Their sense of purpose helps every team member to do their absolute best.” 

See Also: Vision and Mission Statements for Teams

Job Postings Calling for Team Players

Here are some examples of job posting sentences that ask for team players:

• “You’re a strong communicator , able to generate transparently so everyone knows how you’re working toward our big picture goals with the support of your teammates.”
• “You’re a team player who knows when it’s necessary to loop in senior staff and ask for assistance; you’re humble enough to ask for support when you need it.”
• “You’re enthusiastic, people person, and a team player that can also work independently.”
• “Our employees are motivated team players that are always willing to take on a challenge and build on their own skills to get the job done right.”
• “You’re a team player with a positive attitude and an eagerness to help the team succeed.”
• “You work effectively with team members to ensure the selling floor, cash point, fitting rooms and stockroom are clean and well maintained.”
• “You collaborate with peers and leadership, sharing ideas and jumping in to support the needs of the team.”
• “The ideal candidate will be able to integrate them effectively into our close-knit and optimistic team.”
• “Seeking a hardworking individual who can work both independently and in cooperation with key internal stakeholders .”
• “You must be a dependable and inclusive team member who can meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.”
• “In this job, you will lead your own projects while reporting to the managerial team on a daily basis.”
• “We seek two managers who can effectively work together to lead a team of 15 hardworking juniors. The managers need to be able to bring out the best in all team members to create a positive and inclusive team environment.”

See Also: 101 Examples of Mission Statements for Resumes

Good Jobs for Team Players

Most jobs require people to work in teams. If you fancy yourself as a skilled team player, one of the following may be valuable:

• Sportsperson – Of course, not all of us are fortunate enough to be sportspeople. But if you want to be a professional sportsperson, you’ll want to be a team player! You need to know your role and strengths, but also the strengths of others, so you can work together as a cohesive sports team and defeat your opponents.
• Project Manager – Project managers need to oversee projects, delegate tasks, and ensure efficiency within teams.
• Event Organizer – Event organizers have to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders and attempt to get them to work as a cohesive team to organize an event.
• Editor – An editor in a media company needs to work with teams of writers and researchers. They don’t get the byline, but they still have to support their journalists and help them to reach their deadlines.
• Online Curriculum Designer – A curriculum designer needs to work with teachers, web developers, and clients to create lessons (usually online!) to meet curriculum goals but also ensure they integrate well into an online platform. This involves organizing and supporting teams.
• App Developer – An app developer often works in a team that involves developers, graphics designers, and stakeholders. Not everyone will get their way, but all team members need to keep a focus on the goal of creating a great app.

Team players are desirable in today’s economy. We’re regularly working in teams – both in-person and remotely – to get projects completed. From high-end white collar jobs to  everyday work environments like restaurants and retail stores, all team members need to chip in and help each other out. You can’t act selfishly as an employee because you’ve got a greater goal to achieve, and often that goal is only met when everyone works together and helps one another out.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Self-Actualization Examples (Maslow's Hierarchy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Forest Schools Philosophy & Curriculum, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori's 4 Planes of Development, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori vs Reggio Emilia vs Steiner-Waldorf vs Froebel

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