Novembers Article

The importance of being a team player

The ability to be a team player has a crucial role in a professional career and should
be trained since early. The better team players the members of a group are, the better
is the possible outcome from their work together. The importance of being a team
player can be useful either in academic group assignments, group dynamic interviews
or later in a professional work.
The key characteristics of a team player may be:
1. Participation. Being an active participation in a team environment allows you
to share your knowledge and contribute to the success of the team. A team
player is always fully engaged in the tasks of the team and doesnt sit passively
on the sidelines. As an active participant you should take the initiative to help
make things happen and your approach should be What contribution can I
make to help the team achieve success?". Dont forget that team work is all
about sharing ideas and working collaboratively towards a shared goal.
2. Listening actively. A team needs elements who can absorb, understand and
consider others opinions and points of view even if not agreeing with them.
This kind of member can listen to criticism without being defensive and have a
more constructive communication with the other members of the team,
keeping the lines of communication open and the creative juices flowing into
problem solving.
3. Exhibiting flexibility. Team work faces many times the challenge of constant
changing conditions so the ability to adapt can be really useful. Complaining or
stressing about something new being tried or new direction being tested may
be a waste of time and energy and can spread into the other group elements.
Strong team players are firm in their thoughts yet open to what others have to
say.
4. Supportively. A team can hold very different personality types. A good team
member may support by treating other with respect and encouraging them to
do their best in a consistent way.

Career Development | ffc@fepfinanceclub.org

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5. Working as a problem-solver. The main focus of a team is to solve problems in

the best way possible. Good team players are willing to deal with all kinds of
problems in a solution-oriented manner and not looking for others to fault.
Being a problem-solver is important not only to find a solution to the problem
that motivated the group creation but to solve contingent problems that can
arise within the team.
6. Cooperation and pitching in to help. Cooperation is the act of working with
others and acting together to accomplish a job. A good team player will figure
out ways to work together to solve problems and get work done, despite
differences concerning style and perspective that he may have relatively to his
peers. He responds to requests for assistance and take the initiative to offer
help.
7. Reliability. Team members should be able to trust that you will put your best
effort on the work and complete the tasks you are assigned with when you
agreed. You can count on a good team player to deliver good performance all
the time, not just some of the time.
8. Showing commitment. A team player wants always to give the best effort and
wants other team members to do the same. He will care about his work, the
team and the teams work.
9. Sharing openly and willingly. In order for a team to be successful and to work
faster it is very important to have in place a policy of sharing knowledge,
information and experience. If you are a team player, you will take the initiative
to keep other team members informed. Dont forget that much of the
communication within teams takes place informally, so be active in this
informal sharing.

Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. It is the fuel
that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
Andrew Carnegie, Scottish American businessman.

FEP Finance Club,

November, 2014

Joo Simes

Career Development | ffc@fepfinanceclub.org

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