![](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125633930/597074298.jpg)
The New Teacher Advisor Being a Team Player: Collaboration With Colleagues Be a team player. It's one of those sports analogies used frequently in the business world - and in education. District and school administrators also want team players. Team players and teamwork: new strategies for developing successful collaboration /. Are four types of team players — Contributor, Collaborator, Commu.
To be a top performer who gets noticed, you must know how to play well with others at work.
Want to give yourself an edge the next time you’re up for a raise or promotion? Prove you’re a team player. That’s right—to boost your own profile (and reap the rewards), first you must help others succeed.
“In today’s workplace, you have to be able to work with a diverse group of people,” says Joyce Russell, dean at the Villanova School of Business. Indeed, 78.7% of hiring managers seek job candidates who demonstrate strong teamwork skills, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2019 survey.
That’s because teamwork isn’t just good for company morale, it also sets you up for greater success at your job. Teamwork brings together different points of view and allows for creativity and fresh ideas to flourish. Plus, you have trusted people you can fall back on for support, which means there’s less stress resting solely on your shoulders, which means you’re freer to take smart risks.
So how do you go about working well with others? Check out these seven ways to be a great team player.
1. Meet your deadlines
To earn your co-workers’ goodwill, you have to be reliable, says Denise Dudley, career coach and author of Work it! Get in, Get Noticed, Get Promoted. Put simply: You want to establish yourself as trustworthy—someone who produces high-quality work in a timely fashion.
“If you say you’re going to do something, you do it and do it well,” Dudley says.
Reliability is especially important during group projects; after all, if you miss a deadline, your mistake can negatively affect the entire team.
2. Be open-minded
Part of being a team player is being open to other people’s ideas and perspectives, Russell says. That means honing your listening skills and being receptive to feedback from co-workers. So, instead of getting defensive when you receive constructive criticism, see what you can glean from their advice.
In fact, the strongest team players solicit feedback from their co-workers, Russell says. For instance, after completing a group assignment, Russell recommends asking peers for suggestions on how to improve on your next project.
3. Appreciate other people’s work styles
Figuring out how to work well with a variety of personalities can be challenging, particularly in today’s multigenerational workforce, since Millennials and Gen-Xers often have different work styles than baby boomers. However, understanding how each of your colleagues works best can make you a better team player.
Tailoring your communication style to different personalities can help you avoid issues with co-workers and collaborate more efficiently. Take our quick quiz to determine which one of these four common types of employees describes you best, and how you can work well with the others.
4. Adapt quickly
Not everything you do as a team is going to result in success; there will be plenty of flops along the way. But getting hung up on mistakes only throws a wrench in the gears of progress. That’s why flexibility is one of the key traits of a team player, Russell says. So, the next time you encounter a problem at work, make sure you respond judiciously.
“Instead of being upset that something didn’t work out,” says Russell, “step back and say, ‘Okay, I know we have to go in a different direction. Let’s figure out what we’re going to do.’”
5. Avoid office politics
Office politics can create a toxic work environment, but you don’t have to be a part of it. “You want to keep your nose clean,” says Dudley.
To achieve this, always treat co-workers with respect, and don’t become an office gossipmonger. If you have an issue with a peer, try to address it with the person directly before bringing it to your boss or human resources.
6. Focus on the team’s goals
![Player Player](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125633930/224420715.jpg)
While you want to distinguish yourself as a top performer poised for greatness, it’s still important to focus on the bigger picture when working on a group project.
“The ultimate foundation of being a team player is a person being willing and able to put the team’s interests above his or her own,” says Patrick Lencioni, author of The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues. You may have done a stellar job on the part of a presentation you were responsible for, but that matters very little if the overall project fails to achieve what you needed it to do.
7. Celebrate your peers’ successes
One of the easiest ways to build authentic relationships with co-workers is to give credit where it’s due, says Lencioni.
“Ideal team players are humble,” he says. “Humble people 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.”
For example, at your next department meeting, take a minute to publicly thank that co-worker for helping you put together last week’s client presentation. By celebrating a co-worker’s success, says Dudley, he or she will likely do the same for you in the future.
Ready to find your dream team? Join Monster for free today. As a member, you can upload and save up to five versions of your resume. Recruiters search Monster every day looking for star team players just like you.
Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
Updated December 31, 2018
Growth Trends for Related Jobs
It is common to see “team player” listed as a requirement in job postings. Employers not only want knowledgeable and highly skilled workers, they also want professionals who work well with others and who are willing to go the extra mile. Instead of simply calling yourself a team player, use your cover letter to showcase your commitment to your team.
“You” vs. “I”
Instead of focusing only on your skills, talents and other qualifications, concentrate on the employer’s needs and goals. To do this, use “you' statements instead of constantly referring to “I' throughout your letter. For example, instead of saying “I’m deadline-oriented,” say “You can count on me to meet every deadline and ensure my work lives up to your clients’ expectations.” This demonstrates that you realize the company’s success is a group effort. It also shows employers that you’ll place their reputation and customer satisfaction first.
Provide Examples
Demonstrate how you’ve contributed to group projects or supported the rest of the team at your previous jobs. For example, describe how you have collaborated with your colleagues to develop a new product or bring in several important clients. Also, highlight instances where you came through when your employer or your co-workers needed you. Maybe you worked overtime to fill in for an employee who was sick, or delayed your vacation or took on extra work for the good of the company.
Highlight Interpersonal Skills
Instead of concentrating only on your accomplishments or even the results you’ve produced at prior jobs, illustrate your ease in communicating and collaborating with others. For example, describe the steps you take to generate enthusiasm about a project or boost employee morale. Explain what you do if you disagree with a colleague. By walking employers through situations that required teamwork on your part, you provide evidence that you’re a team player, and inspire confidence in your ability to work with your colleagues even in the toughest situations.
Express Enthusiasm
One of the clearest ways to demonstrate you have a team-player attitude is to discuss how much you enjoy working with others. In your letter, describe what you liked about working closely with colleagues at your previous jobs. Talk about how much their camaraderie meant to you and what you learned or how you benefited from your workplace relationships. For example, mention how you’ve always valued being part of a team because you can draw on the insight of co-workers who are more experienced or have different skill sets than you.
![Inventory Inventory](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125633930/960209757.jpg)
- Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
![](/uploads/1/2/5/6/125633930/597074298.jpg)