Cornhuskers: Being a Team Player

No matter what profession you’re in, knowing how to work as a team player is important. And what better source of inspiration than the Nebraska Cornhuskers when it comes to working as a team? Though you may not be on the field scoring touchdowns, it’s still essential that you know how to collaborate and connect with those you work with. Here are some of the key lessons on teamwork we can learn from the Cornhuskers:

Practice

Teamwork takes practice. While the Cornhusks have actual practices to work together as a team, professionals also need to practice engaging with their teammates. While some people will work very naturally as a team, others need a bit more practice. Be sure to make your expectations clear and keep communication open throughout the process. 

Unite Towards Common Goals

The easiest way to promote successful teamwork is to identify common goals. This helps everyone on the team get inspired and connected. While everyone may have their own interests and goals as well, when you can come together around a common mission, it makes it much easier to work as a group.

Stay Motivated

When you’re part of a team, you’re part of the path to success. When one team member loses motivation, the moral of the entire group can be disrupted. Source motivation from the fact that your team members are depending on you. Whether this means learning new things, strengthening certain skills, or developing new perspectives for looking at your work, keeping a positive, motivated attitude is an important aspect of being part of a team.

Seek and Give Support

Support is one of the most valuable elements of working as a team, and it goes both ways. When you encounter challenging situations, don’t be afraid to reach out to your team members for advice or assistance. In return, make yourself available to offer support as well. While everyone needs to pull their weight, this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t lean on one another from time to time. The best team members know how to maximize this availability of support without sacrificing their independence.

Share the Victory

When you win as a team, the victory belongs to everyone. It doesn’t matter who contributed what or who closed the deal. What matters is that you succeed as a team in accomplishing your common goal. When the Cornhuskers win, it’s about the team. It’s great to highlight specific member’s contributions, but overall, it’s important to keep in mind the idea of a shared victory.

Learning to work as a team can accelerate success. The more a team practices working together and commits to functioning as a group, the more effective they will become. Each player needs to learn the balance between working independently and contributing as a piece of the puzzle. What else do you think professionals need to keep in mind about teamwork? I’d love to hear your thoughts.