Workplace Challenges
Meeting deadlines most essential attribute: SurveyHow to be your team's MVPEvery day, in every workplace, we hear about the "team player." |
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 [ 2007-10-23 ] |
(Comstock)
The term has become so ubiquitous that we often lose sight of the meaning behind the words.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career for Dummies, agrees.
"The term 'team player' has been used so frequently that it's lost much of its meaning," he says. "But it essentially refers to honouring obligations and being supportive of co-workers."
And while building solid teams has been a workplace staple for decades now, Messer believes teamwork is even more important today.
"These attributes have always been important, but they're especially valuable now, given the amount of collaboration required in today's workplace," he says.
Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, recently commissioned a survey to find out what the most important attributes of a team player are.
They found that nearly 40% of senior Canadian executives say a team player, more than anything, meets deadlines.
Other positive attributes include:
- Is pleasant to work with (31%)
- Supports his or her manager (17%)
- Avoids politics (10%)
- Don't know (3%)
Recognizing the importance of being a team player is a big step towards achieving more from your career, rather than just treating it as a job. Success and fulfillment at work makes employment a more worthwhile part of your life.
Accountemps has these tips for those who not only want to be a part of the team, but also want to the team's "most valuable player":
- Develop a winning game plan. Set realistic goals and expectations by establishing roles and responsibilities for each member of the team up front.
- Keep your eye on the ball. Prioritize projects so you spend the majority of your time on activities that most directly affect the bottom line, rather than those you can easily check off of your to-do list.
- Take one for the team. Don't play the blame game if something goes awry. Instead, focus on correcting the problem and move forward. Your willingness to acknowledge mistakes when appropriate will encourage personal accountability in others.
- Play fair. Give credit where it is due, and be generous in your praise. Be sure to thank unsung heroes who contribute to a project's success.
- Avoid throwing curveballs. Do your part to minimize office politics by engaging in open communication and fostering an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.
Following those rules of thumb will go a long way to ensuring not only success in the workplace, but also in any organization that you join or volunteer for, as well as in your personal life.
Do you have you a bad boss?