Making Shift Happen New Year's Resolution Series: A Guide to Being a Stellar Teammate in 2024

Welcome to the Making Shift Happen New Year's Resolution Series! The New Year brings new possibilities and promise, not just for personal growth, but for the flourishing success of your business. Join us in this series where we unravel strategies, insights, and resolutions for organisational success in 2024. In this article we take a look at some of the attitudes and skills that make a good teammate and how we can harness these traits for performance and success.

Teamwork is the heartbeat of organisational success, where diverse individuals collaborate towards common goals. A team player is someone who understands that their individual success is intricately linked to the success of the entire team. In a world that thrives on collaboration, being a good teammate is not just a skill but a mindset that can elevate both personal and collective achievements.

A strong team begins with strong individuals. Each individual in an organisation brings a unique skill set, and this diversity is part of what makes a successful team. However, some traits are universally applicable when it comes to being a good team player. This article delves into some important things you can start implementing today to become a better teammate in 2024.

To Improve Your Team, First Work on Yourself - Reflexivity & Self-Awareness

Understanding oneself is key to being a valuable team member. Reflexivity and self-awareness enable individuals to recognise their biases, acknowledge mistakes, and continuously improve. A self-aware teammate is better equipped to navigate professional relationships, contribute meaningfully, and adapt to the evolving needs of the team. Self-awareness can be broken down into internal and external self-awareness.

Internal self-awareness?involves understanding your feelings, beliefs, and values. Teammates with low internal self-awareness typically see their beliefs as absolute truths, neglecting the consideration that others may hold equally valid perspectives. The good news is that internal self-awareness can be learned. A good starting point is taking a moment to pause,?reflect, and ask yourself these questions when you find yourself in challenging scenarios:

• What emotions am I experiencing?
• What am I assuming about another person or the situation?
• What are the facts and what are my interpretations?
• What are my core values, and how might they be impacting my reactions?

External self-awareness involves understanding how our words and actions impact others. One way to start building external self-awareness is to observe others’ reactions during discussions (drawing upon internal self-awareness to avoid making assumptions!). A more direct approach is to?ask teammates for specific, straightforward feedback:

• What am I doing in team meetings that is helpful?
• What am I doing that is not helpful?
• If you could change one part of how I interact with the team, what would it be?

(Harvard Business Review)

Have The Courage to Say Hard Things

Effective communication is at the heart of every successful team. Having the courage to express dissenting opinions, propose alternative solutions, or address difficult issues is crucial. A good teammate is not afraid to speak up when it matters, fostering a culture of honesty, open dialogue, and constructive feedback. Being willing to say the hard things while maintaining compassion invites others to do the same and allows us all to grow together.

Be Willing To Learn

In a rapidly changing world, being a lifelong learner is a valuable trait. Good teammates recognise that they don't have all the answers and are willing to learn and improve. This humility enables people to see creative solutions and approach challenges with resilience.

Understand The Team's Core Values and Goals

Understanding the team's core values and goals is crucial for achieving synergy and success. It ensures that each team member aligns their efforts with the collective vision, guiding decision-making and behaviour. This alignment fosters effective collaboration, minimises conflicts, and enhances overall productivity. A shared commitment to core values contributes to a positive work culture, reinforcing a sense of purpose and unity. Ultimately, this understanding forms the foundation for building a high-performing team capable of navigating challenges and achieving sustained success.

Be Accountable

Accountability is the bedrock of reliability and trust within a team. While accountability is often associated with holding others accountable, the most effective leaders and team members prioritise holding themselves accountable. A good teammate takes ownership of their responsibilities, delivers on commitments, and holds themselves accountable for both successes and setbacks.

To be a personally accountable leader or teammate, you need to:

• Recognise when there is a problem. Resist the urge to look away when a problem arises. Look in the mirror instead!
• Acknowledge and accept how you have contributed to the problem.
• Take personal responsibility for solving the problem.
• Stick with it until the problem is completely solved.

Being a stellar teammate in 2024 involves a combination of individual self-awareness, effective communication, and a commitment to shared goals and values. By embracing these principles, individuals can contribute to the success of their teams, fostering a collaborative and thriving work environment for the year ahead.

Thank you! Thanks to my Making Shift Happen colleague Louise Coombes for her help in creating this article series. Thanks also to you, the reader for tuning in. Share your thoughts in the comments!

References:

• Harvard Business Review
• Forbes
• Gallup