How to be a more effective team member

Teamwork is consistently cited by employers as one of the key skills they are looking for in job candidates. In fact, a recent study by global education business, Pearson, identified teamwork as one of the top five Power Skills needed by Australian employees to be successful in the future.

Effective teamwork can produce a number of benefits for both employers and employees. For employers this includes greater productivity, less mistakes, more innovation and higher staff retention levels. For individual employees, working as a member of a team can help you learn new skills, improve your communication levels, reduce stress and broaden your professional network.

So, given these benefits, what steps can you take to be a more effective team member when working on a project or implementing a strategy? Here are Skillset’s top tips:

1. Make sure you understand the end goal and the role of each team member

When you are working as part of a team on a particular project or strategy, it is crucial that you have a clear understanding of what your objective is. It is also necessary to establish the part you and other team members are going to play in achieving it.

Therefore, before you commence working as part of a team, make certain you have a clear understanding of your role, your key accountabilities and outputs. Also, make sure you understand the roles and responsibilities of all team members so you know exactly what each member is accountable for. Doing this will ensure you effectively fulfil your role on the team.

2. Play your part in fostering positive communication

Communication is a vital part of teamwork. Further to this, positive communication between team members is essential for team dynamics. A recent study by Atlassian found that team members who worked in an environment where candid feedback, respect and personal openness were encouraged, were 80% more likely to report high emotional wellbeing. There is also considerable research demonstrating that when employees feel comfortable expressing their ideas, greater cooperation and innovation follows. As a consequence, respecting each team member’s views, opinions and ideas is a key part of being an effective team member.

Practicing active listening skills can be also very helpful in enhancing positive communication between team members. Doing this requires patience and is a skill that can be learned. For more information about improving your active listening skills, click here.

3. Put the team first

A major benefit of being part of a team is that everyone shares the workload. This means helping other team members when they need assistance, and them helping you when your workload is high or you are having difficulties with your work.

During the course of a project, it is likely the team may need to choose the best person to undertake a specific task. This may mean you don’t get to undertake a job or activity you would normally do or prefer doing. Instead of unhelpfully defending your territory, think of the team and the goals it is trying to achieve. It might be possible to assist on the task or offer some input, rather than taking the lead on this occasion. Remember, teams are most successful when team members work together for a common purpose.

4. Be flexible

When people come together as a team, there are bound to be differences in working styles and communication methods. As a result, keep an open mind about alternative ways of working. Doing this will benefit the team and you may also learn some new skills in the process.

5. Celebrate successes

When working in a team, it is important to celebrate success. Doing so will build morale and camaraderie within the group.

As a team member, you can contribute to team morale by congratulating any team members on their achievements. This will help you connect with other team members and will assist in creating a work environment which encourages team members to contribute and do their best.