How to Be an Effective Team Member

Working on teams can be rewarding, but at times it can be difficult and downright frustrating. If there are poor communicators on your team, you may often feel left in the dark, confused or misunderstood. To create a successful team, effective communication methods are necessary for both team members and leaders. Even though some people understand their communication skills need improving, many aren't certain how to improve them. So, in the following article, we've outlined how to avoid some common team blunders as well as some helpful advice on how to be a better teammate or leader overall. Go… team!

If you’re a Team Member

·      Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

If you have a problem with someone in your group, talk to him about it. Letting bad feelings brew will only make you sour and want to isolate yourself from the group. Not only does it feel good to get it out, but it will be better for the team in the long run.

·      Don't Blame Others

People in your group lose respect for you if you're constantly blaming others for not meeting deadlines. You're not fooling anyone, people know who isn't pulling his weight in a group. Pointing the finger will only make you look cowardly. Group members understand if you have a heavy workload and weren't able to meet a deadline. Saying something like, "I'm really sorry, but I'll get it to you by the end of today." will earn you a lot more respect than trying to make it seem like it's everyone else's fault that you missed your deadline.

·      Support Group Member's Ideas

If a teammate suggests something, always consider it – even if it's the silliest idea you've ever heard! Considering the group's ideas shows you're interested in other people's ideas, not just your own. And this makes you a good team member. After all, nobody likes a know-it-all.

·      No Bragging

It's one thing to rejoice in your successes with the group, but don't act like a superstar. Doing this will make others regret your personal successes and may create tension within the group. You don't have to brag to let people know you've done a good job, people will already know. Have faith that people will recognize when good work is being done and that they'll let you know how well you're doing. Your response? Something like "Thanks, that means a lot." is enough.

·      Listen Actively

Look at the person who's speaking to you, nod, ask probing questions and acknowledge what's said by paraphrasing points that have been made. If you're unclear about something that's been said, ask for more information to clear up any confusion before moving on. Effective communication is a vital part of any team, so the value of good listening skills shouldn't be underestimated.

·      Get Involved

Share suggestions, ideas, solutions and proposals with your team members. Take the time to help your fellow teammates, no matter the request. You can guarantee there will be a time in the future when you'll need some help or advice. And if you've helped them in past, they'll be more than happy to lend a helping hand.

·      Coach, Don't Demonstrate

When you're under a time crunch, it's tempting to demonstrate a task rather than to provide supportive directions. When you say "Let me show you how" your motivation is probably just to get the work done rather than help the team member learn. This can be devastating to that team member's skill development and makes him dependent on you. In the long run, the individual to whom you've demonstrated skills will require guidance for just about everything. Since you've done everything for him, he may be hesitant to make decisions or take action without checking with you first.

·      Provide Constructive Criticism

If you're providing feedback, be sure to communicate the bad and the good. It's always hard to hear criticism, but if you highlight the good things too it makes taking the bad a little easier. Also, provide clear suggestions on how your team members can improve. You don't have to give them all of the solutions, instead guide the group by sharing your knowledge and experience.

·      Back Off

Perhaps you've assigned a project to a team member that's of particular interest to you. Initially, you should provide some guidance and communicate that it's an open door policy for additional questions that may come up along the way. Now, it's important to back off! It may be tempting to get overly involved, but try and bite your tongue unless the individual comes to you for input or guidance. As a team leader, you must prove to your group members that you believe in their abilities and talents. By staying out of the picture, this shows team members they'll get a fair chance to demonstrate what they can do without interference.

·      Try To Be Positive

Enthusiasm is contagious… if you're excited about your group's project, it's likely they'll feel a reason to be also. As a leader, your team members look to you for direction. If you notice that the group's motivation and output levels are in a slump, this is your wake-up call! Have a meeting to discuss what needs to be changed, and really listen to what your team has to say. If you think they may have a difficult time admitting this, get them to write their comments on paper instead. It's important to stay in tune with your group. You may be surprised by what they have to say – it could be a dramatically different perspective from your own.

·      Value Your Group's Ideas

Don't discount your group's ideas. Avoid phrases like "Yeah, but…" or "We've already tried that". If a suggested idea was attempted in the past but failed, consider that it may not have been executed properly or that it simply wasn't the best time. Consider each and every idea that your group members generate and encourage them to communicate their insights on a regular basis. If you're overly critical of ideas or immediately discount the ideas of others, your group will hesitate sharing anything. After all, for every twenty mediocre suggestions, there's bound to be at least one stellar idea.