It is impossible to imagine a company or an organization that does not use teamwork as part of the day-to-day workplace lexicon. The word "teamwork" brings to mind a group of people working together collaboratively with one another to achieve the goals of an organization. In fact, being a team player is one of the commonly-expected traits when hiring new employees. Everyone has their own specific concepts of what teamwork stands for. What is teamwork then?
Teamwork is basically working together with your colleagues to achieve the goals of a company, an organization or even a small group of people. You prioritize the team's goals before your own. You seek others' input. In fact, you are willing to learn from others and truly value their ideas and expertise. When a decision has to be made, you support whatever was ultimately decided and act accordingly, no matter how much you may disagree with the decision and how much it deviate from your own opinions.
The best way to demonstrate your team spirit is when you share the credit for whatever the team accomplishes, and also accepts responsibility as a team for whatever shortcomings the team has. Cooperation is always positive, pulling together for a common purpose.
Now, how do you know when what's going on is not teamwork? This is fairly easy to ascertain. When all you do at the office is do the work of others - that's not teamwork. When you allow other people to take credit for something you worked so hard on and spent a lot of overtime on - that's not teamwork. When you always end up "putting out fires", so to speak or correcting and fixing other people's mistakes at the expense of your own time and workload - that's not teamwork. When you find yourself constantly accommodating other people's demands and requests on your time - that's not teamwork. When you come up with brilliant ideas and give it away willingly to your colleagues - that's not teamwork.
A team player recognizes the work that has to be done, knows his role and the extent of his contribution to the work, and allows others to contribute their fair share. A team player knows when to back off after you have done what was required of you and let others take over. Teamwork is not allowing yourself to be a scapegoat when problems arise, especially when it is not your fault. Being a team player does not mean you do all the work for the team. It does not mean you are supposed to solve other people's problems, and allowing them to waste your time in the process. Being a team player is one thing. Being a pushover and a doormat is another.
Teamwork is basically working together with your colleagues to achieve the goals of a company, an organization or even a small group of people. You prioritize the team's goals before your own. You seek others' input. In fact, you are willing to learn from others and truly value their ideas and expertise. When a decision has to be made, you support whatever was ultimately decided and act accordingly, no matter how much you may disagree with the decision and how much it deviate from your own opinions.
The best way to demonstrate your team spirit is when you share the credit for whatever the team accomplishes, and also accepts responsibility as a team for whatever shortcomings the team has. Cooperation is always positive, pulling together for a common purpose.
Now, how do you know when what's going on is not teamwork? This is fairly easy to ascertain. When all you do at the office is do the work of others - that's not teamwork. When you allow other people to take credit for something you worked so hard on and spent a lot of overtime on - that's not teamwork. When you always end up "putting out fires", so to speak or correcting and fixing other people's mistakes at the expense of your own time and workload - that's not teamwork. When you find yourself constantly accommodating other people's demands and requests on your time - that's not teamwork. When you come up with brilliant ideas and give it away willingly to your colleagues - that's not teamwork.
A team player recognizes the work that has to be done, knows his role and the extent of his contribution to the work, and allows others to contribute their fair share. A team player knows when to back off after you have done what was required of you and let others take over. Teamwork is not allowing yourself to be a scapegoat when problems arise, especially when it is not your fault. Being a team player does not mean you do all the work for the team. It does not mean you are supposed to solve other people's problems, and allowing them to waste your time in the process. Being a team player is one thing. Being a pushover and a doormat is another.
About the Author:
CMOE has been helping companies with leadership training and team building since 1978. Through a leadership training program and other innovative business techniques CMOE has established themselves a leader in the business world. Visit www.cmoe.com for more information.
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