Here are five qualities that make a good team player great:

1. Always reliable. A great team player is constantly reliable day in and day out, not just some of
the time. You can count on them to get the job done, meet deadlines, keep their word and
provide consistent quality work. With excellent performance, organization and follow-through
on tasks they develop positive relationships with team members and keep the team on track.
2. Communicates with confidence. A good team player might silently get the work done but
may shy away from speaking up and speaking often. Great team players communicate their
ideashonestly and clearly and respect the views and opinions of others on the team. Clear,
effective communication done constructively and respectfully is the key to getting heard.
3. Does more than asked. While getting the work done and doing your fair share is expected of
good team players, great team players know that taking risks, stepping outside their comfort
zones, and coming up with creative ideas is what itll take to get ahead. Taking on more
responsibilities and extra initiative sets them apart from others on the team.
4. Adapts quickly and easily. Great team players dont passively sit on the sideline and see
change happen; they adapt to changing situations and often drive positive change
themselves. They dont get stressed or complain but are flexible in finding their feet in
whatever is thrown their way.
5. Displays genuine commitment. Good team players are happy to work 9-5 and receive their
paycheck at the end of the month. Great team players take the time to make positive
relationships with other team members a priority and display a genuine passion and
commitment toward their team. They come to work with the commitment of giving it 110% and
expect others on the team to do the same.
Top Ten Qualities of an Outstanding Team Player
6. 1. Enthusiasm & Commitment
An exemplary team member has enthusiasm for the organization and commitment for its cause.
An outstanding team member stands behind the organization's ideals, vision and mission. A team
player knows when to put aside the differences for the common good.
7. 2. Integrity
Integrity is foundational and sets the parameters for the organization's success. The higher one's
integrity, the higher one's success potential. An organization or a person can't be truly successful
without integrity. Align your actions with your values for a high level of fulfillment and integrity an
ideal team member's actions reflect their commitment to the organization and community.
8. 3. Competency
When we work with competent people, we're confident and trusting, knowing they'll deliver
quality. Because one person's performance effects the functioning of the whole team,
competency takes on great significance. Competency begets excellence; who can argue with
that? Competency builds a strong team. Competency erases any cause for needless anxiety and
is good for our mental health, as well as the health of the team.
9. 4. Creativity
Creativity and "outside the box" thinking is key for organizational transformation and problem
solving. Having creative thinkers on the team moves the organization forward in ways that can't
be anticipated. Nurture your creative instincts and don't be afraid to share what you think might
be unconventional ideas. Change would never occur if we didn't have bold "outside the box"
thinkers!
10. 5. Sense of Humor
Lightness holds the team together as much as shared values and vision. Dedication and
commitment to shared values doesn't preclude team members from having fun! Lightness adds
perspective and helps to keep team members balanced. Keep your life sane so you maintain your
sense of humor; laughter is healing, healthy and fun!
11. 6. Perseverance
Perseverance comes easily to those who are committed. When one is committed, one is
steadfast in their belief of possibility. Nothing gets in the way of the vision. Obstacles are

stepping-stones en route to fulfillment of the vision. Never take your eyes off the vision work
towards the goal so that nothing stands between your team and the goal/vision.
12. 7. Language
Language is the conduit for growth and self-expression. While progress can happen without
words, it's language that brings forward our learning and experience. Language is the context for
commitment. Language connects us and is a primary conduit for self-expression.
13. 8. The Power of Questions
Questions open communication; statements don't. Outstanding team members are inquisitive by
nature and are open to hearing other points of view. Team members who appreciate the power of
questions demonstrate strong teamwork skills. Questions move the team (and organization)
forward in both linear and non-linear ways.
14. 9. Reliability & Follow-Through
When we give our word, we create an expectation for others. When we deliver, others consider
us reliable our word carries weight and means something. An ideal team member understands
the power of the word and how strongly our integrity is based upon our word. Reliability is
keeping your word, time and time again.
15. 10. Collaboration
Collaboration is at its essence, contribution. It's what happens when we "step outside of
ourselves" and honor the space we share more than where we each individually come from.
Collaboration is what we create when we come together. Strong team members value the power
and synergy of collaboration.

6 Problem Solving Skills Entrepreneurs Need

1. Critical Thinking Skills
The human brain has been identified as the most powerful data processing machine but
unfortunately; only few people ever utilize their brain power. Critical thinking is the ultimate key to
problem solving and is the most important problem solving skill you should develop. Napoleon Hill
said that all achievements begin with an idea and ideas are the product of critical thinking.
Critical thinking skill is important because it enables entrepreneurs identify problems and turn such
problems into opportunities. Business and financial intelligence, competence, idea generation and
strategic project execution are all results of critical thinking.
Most intricate business problems have been solved by challenging the brain to come up with
solutions. Business challenges and problems can never be resolved without critical thinking; done
either by the entrepreneur or business team. Just as Robert Kiyosaki says your brain is your most
powerful asset. Now how do you develop your critical thinking skill? Well, I think thats an answer for
another day.
2. Understanding of the business
The next problem solving skill you must develop is thorough understanding of the business you are
involved in. And this skill is not one you can develop in your closet; its a skill you develop by putting
yourself on the line, its a skill you develop by getting your hands dirty.
Thoroughly understanding your business to the core is a product of experience; a product of staying
in the game through thick and thin. Just as critical thinking is important to the process of effective
problem solving in business; so also is understanding a core value to problem solving. Before critical
thinking comes understanding.
Now how do you solve a problem when you dont understand its workings or root cause? How do
you solve a business problem you dont understand? Let me cite a real life illustration so you will
better understand my point. Bill Gates became the richest man in the world because he was an
expert at solving software marketing problems. Donald Trump became a billionaire because he
solves business problems relating to real estate and George Soros became success because he

was an expert at handling market volatility. These successful entrepreneurs became billionaires
because they thoroughly understood their line of business.
Now what if Bill Gates was presented with a problem relating to stock investing; will he be able to
solve it? My answer is no. Why? The reason is because Bill Gates doesnt understand the intricacies
of the stock market. Now how do you gain understanding of your business?
I dont know but a good way to start is by solving small problems arising from your business and
taking note of its lessons. Understanding comes from experience and experience is all about being
involved with the business process. You can also increase your level of understanding by attending
seminars, reading books, listening to experts, magazines and analyzing industrial trends.
3. People Skills
The third critical problem solving skill you need to develop is people skills; but I prefer to use the
word team spirit. To become an excellent problem solver; you must learn to think critically in
solitude as well as part of a team.
Business and investing are team sports, and to succeed; you must learn how to think in synergy with
your business management team. You must be able to assemble different experts from different
walks of life and channel their intelligence to the problem at hand. This can never be achieved
without a mastery of people management skills.
4. Faith
The fourth problem solving skill you must strive to develop as an entrepreneur is faith. The holy bible
says that with faith, you can move mountains. I listed faith as a skill because its a trait you are not
born with; you develop it over time by increasing your spiritual understanding and knowledge. Is it
possible to solve a problem you have lost hope on? The answer is no.
To find an effective solution to a business problem; you must believe that a solution exist, you must
have a firm belief that the problem can be solved. Faith is important to critical problem solving
because it keeps the mind focused on finding a solution to the problem; rather than lamenting over
the problem. Just as Ingvar Kamprad says the word impossible has been deleted from our
dictionary.
5. Decisiveness
The next critical problem solving skill needed by every entrepreneur is decisiveness. After analyzing
several possible solutions to the problem at hand; you must be able to arrive at a decision quickly.
Take a look at successful entrepreneurs that solved intricate business challenges and societal
problems; and you will see decisiveness at their core. Henry Ford, Bill Gate, Donald Trump, Andrew
Carnegie, Richard Branson and Larry Ellison are entrepreneurs that became famous because of
their ability to reach decisions quickly.
6. Courage
The last skill you need to effectively solve problems in business is courage. Courage to face your
problems squarely, courage to face the consequences of your decision; and courage to take
extreme measures or solutions. Just like faith, courage is developed over time through personal
mastery.
In conclusion, these are six most important skills required to effectively solve intricate business
problems. Develop these problem solving skills and I will see you at the pinnacle of business
success.

The steps in this sequence are arranged in a circle to emphasize the cyclical, continuous
nature of the problem solving process. All six steps must be followed in the order shown
above, beginning with the first step, 1. Identify the Problem. Each step must be
completed before the group proceeds clockwise to the next step.
There are several important characteristics to this model:
The steps are repeatable
At any step in the process, your group may decide to go back and repeat an earlier step.

For example, diagnosing a problem can often lead back to redefining the problem.
The process is continuous
Simply implementing a solution does not end the problem solving process. Evaluation of
that solution may identify new aspects of the problem or new problems that need to be
addressed, leading the group back to step one, where the new problem is identified.
Although the steps all have distinct names, there is no clear demarcation between them.
For example, identifying and diagnosing a problem are two steps that may frequently
overlap. Lets look at each of the steps a little more closely.
Step One: Define the Problem
The first step, identifying the problem, is a broad review of the current situation a
fitting together of information, like pieces of a puzzle. In this first stage, a group
identifies and discusses the symptoms and scope of the problem. That is, it determines
what hurts, the degree to which the symptoms are shared, and the urgency of relieving
the symptoms. Groups use tools such as brainstorming, interviewing, and completing
questionnaires to gather this information.
As you go through this step, you will find yourselves raising, reviewing, and discarding
statements of the problem as you sort out what are merely symptoms of the problem and
then look behind those symptoms to make a tentative definition of the underlying
problem.
Step Two: Determine the Root Cause(s) of the Problem
Once you recognize the symptoms and have tentatively defined the problem, your group
can begin to collect information about the nature of the problem. At this step, you may
use tools such as the Fishbone diagram, or Pareto analysis to help you organize this
information and zero in on underlying causes of the problem. In this way, you determine
the root causes of the problem. When you restate the problem, your definition will reflect
the causes. Your efforts over the next two steps can thus be directed to finding solutions
that address the roots of a documented problem, not merely its random symptoms.
Step Three: Develop Alternative Solutions
Once you have defined a problem, your knee-jerk reaction may be to jump toward a
particular solution. However, creative problem solving requires you to explore a full
range of viable solutions before reaching a conclusion. To assemble a variety of
solutions from which to choose a final solution, you must:
generate as many potential solutions as possible
relate each solution to the causes of the problem
merge similar or related solutions
At this stage, you are still not ready to select the best solution. You simply want to
reduce redundancy, and eliminate any possibilities that dont address the causes you
identified earlier. Force field analysis is a good tool for preliminary screening of this
solution field.
Step Four: Select a Solution
As a fourth step, evaluate each potential solution for its strengths and weaknesses.
Selecting a solution entails searching for the most effective solution by applying two
general criteria. An effective solution:
is technically feasible

 is acceptable to those who will have to implement it

Feasibility is determined by asking the following questions:
Can it be implemented in a reasonable time?
Can it be done within cost limits?
Will it work reliably?
Will it use staff and equipment efficiently?
Is it flexible enough to adapt to changing conditions?
Ask these questions when evaluating a solutions acceptability:
Do the implementers support the solution, perceiving it as worth their time and energy?
Are the risks manageable?
Will the solution benefit the persons affected by the problem?
Will it benefit the organization?
Selecting a solution requires you to choose one that will be effective one that has
sufficient technical quality to resolve the problem, and is acceptable to those who will
implement it.
Step Five: Implement the Solution
Choosing a solution does not immediately solve a problem. Putting a solution into action
may prove as difficult as deciding on one. The implementation stage requires action
planning:
What must be done?
Who will do it?
When will it be started?
When will key milestones be completed?
How will the necessary actions be carried out?
Why are these actions a solution?
Step Six: Evaluate the Outcome
In simplest terms, evaluation is the monitoring that any project needs to ensure that
milestones are met, costs are contained, and work is completed. Unfortunately, most
groups neglect or short-change the evaluation step, and therefore do not get the continued
results or performance they were hoping to achieve. Effective groups, however, plan
additional feedback mechanisms to detect the need for midcourse corrections and to
ensure that the problem is solved without creating new problems. Collecting data and
reporting on what has been accomplished also keeps a group credible with its
constituents. Finally, reflecting on its own processes and results keeps a group effective.
It also brings the problem-solving process full circle, as reflecting on results helps a
group identify its next step.