From time to time, team members will share their views stimulated from a piece by an industry thought leader. Here, our Director of Paid Marketing, Kim Figor, discusses a Forbes. article by Expert Panel, Forbes Coaches Council “15 Top Tips To Become A Better Team Player At Work?”
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to have some in depth conversations with my son who is going to be a sophomore in college this year, mostly around his freshman year and how the year wasn’t as he thought it would be. In the end, what we recognized together was that being around so many new people who didn’t have the same background as him, resulting in my son isolating himself.
Our discussion turned to him focusing on what he could do to become a better classmate and build what will most likely be lasting relationships, despite the differences in him and other students. In today’s world of diversity, it is most likely that every one of us finds ourselves (in school, the workplace, or anywhere else in society) working on teams, managing or being managed by people who are much different than ourselves – different perceptions, experiences, and belief systems.
In my quest to help my son find resources, I came across this article in Forbes that provides 15 tips that I believe can be applied to any circumstance throughout life. Afterall, getting along with your co-workers, classmates and even family is key to enjoying your life experience and fitting in with the office crowd.
Below, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council provide their best advice for how any professional can become a better co-worker and team player at the office. Here’s what they recommend:
- Let Others Help You.
- Focus On Shared Interests.
- Listen Well.
- Cultivate The Genius In Others.
- Make Yourself A ‘Reward’.
- Use Your ‘Followership’ Skills.
- Lead With Best Intentions.
- Share Your Gifts.
- Volunteer To Do The Dirty Work.
- Spread Positivity.
- Flex To Others’ Work Styles.
- Solicit Feedback From Colleagues.
- Find The Human Inside.
- Never Play The Blame Game.
- Focus On Collaboration, Not Just Cooperation.
At the end of the day, nobody wants to be an outsider and it takes others in our lives to help us reach our full potential. Being a better team member and improving our ability to work well with other people in all areas of life will help improve relationships needed on our journey in life.
