4 ways to be a team player

A team should be a well-oiled machine. In order to have value, all of its parts should work well together. If you’re part of a team, here are some ways you can be at your most valuable.

Be all-in

Being “all-in” is a popular phrase with my favorite college football team, and I think it’s a very valuable motto. I also had a friend who used to say “anything worth doing is worth doing with excellence.” I’m not sure of the origination of either one of those phrases, but clearly the value of hard work and commitment isn’t lost on some people. When you’re focused on work, give your all and be present.

Know your role (don’t slow your roll)

All parts of a machine have a function. You have a function as a member of your team. Even if you think you’re capable of more, know your role and crush your responsibilities. The better you execute your job, the better it is for the team.

Be versatile and flexible

Sometimes your role in an organization may change. Hopefully this is because you’ve shown a greater value in a new area. The good news is, you’re getting experience in multiple areas. This can only increase your value as an employee down the road. Be ready to adapt to change and deliver good results wherever you’re needed.

Communicate

I love college basketball. I love that team that everyone loves to hate. One thing I’ve learned from watching tons of college basketball is that a good defense talks and helps each other out. You know how important communication is to me, and it should be as important to you. When you’re on the same page as the rest of your teammates, that’s when the magic happens.