On Being A Good Team Player
There’s a certain chemistry that a successful team has. It’s more than just the sum of its players, it’s the result of hard work, good leadership and team work.
Acknowledging that every member plays their own role and makes their own unique contribution is important. If everyone in the team takes this approach, it’s the perfect recipe for success. And it’s seen, both on and off the pitch.
If you want your team to be on the winning side, it takes more than just the right manager, a healthy bank balance or a ‘golden’ player. It’s the gentle balance of every team player making their own unique and important contribution. Only then do the results speak for themselves.
Everyone can play their part, here’s 13 of the best ways you can come together.
Win as a team, lose as a team
Teams that accept that they win together and lose together are on the right track. It shows a certain maturity and healthy respect that they acknowledge their own role as being no greater than anyone else’s. Forget what you might have already learnt, because there is no room for egos in team sport.
Treat everyone on the team as essential
Whether you’re the captain of the team, or its latest recruit, it’s important to treat all players with the same respect. Everyone has their part to play, everyone was chosen for a reason. If you’re struggling with this, try and see part personalities and start looking at contributions. You might just learn something too!
Treat all players equally
From training to events, your team will only come together if everyone is bonded and believes in the greater goal. This means working together as a team. But what happens off the pitch is often reflected on the pitch. This means that it’s important to treat all players equally at all times.
Listen and be patient
There’s a time and place for everything. Listening is a skill, and one that should be honed in all parts of training and performance. Being patient isn’t always easy, but when the greater focus of the team is at heart, it’s important to exercise this.
Support the team
Team work is so much more than just yourself. It’s about the entire orchestration of a group of people working together for one shared ambition. Whatever role you play, one factor should remain – you are at the disposal of your team members, both on and off the pitch. This means that you support them when they need it most, recognising when they are asking for help, and when they aren’t but need it.
Respect everyone involved in the team
Respect breeds respect. If you can extend the same courtesy to every single player in the team you will notice how much better it is for overall performance. This is also important for your career progression and if you want to be a leader, manager or captain in the future too.
Set goals
Goal setting is important for the individual and team. If you don’t already have set of varied goals for now and in the future, then it’s time to work them through with your sports coach. If nothing else, it helps keep you focused.
Be responsive to coaching
As a sports coach, take it from me that some players are harder to manage than others. But when you really listen and take note of the coach, you will start to open yourself up to greater success. Be then responsive to coaching. Actively listen, share your thoughts and feedback, treat it like the two-way consultation it should be.
Be accountable
Mistakes will be made, failures will happen. What is important is that we remain accountable for our actions and learn from those who hold their hands up. Sport is a game of honour after all. But more so, being accountable is also important for your own personal development. It is often important to recognise in order to move on and learn from mistakes.
Devote yourself to the team
As a team player, if you only have one goal, make it this: you exist for the sole disposal of your team. If someone needs your help, you offer it, if someone is struggling, you’re the shoulder to carry them. Complete devotion is to be applauded, it’s also rare to find.
Communicate effectively
We can all scream and shout, get angry and in a mood. None of it helps. What does is good communication. That means being honest, being clear and being responsive in all we do. This applies to action on the field, working together in training and dealing with management.
Understand your own strengths and weaknesses
We are not all perfect, some of us have great strengths and great weakness, others are average at everything. No two people are the same, and that’s ok. It takes a careful mix of the right personalities and characteristics for a team to be successful. Being aware of your shortcomings is as important as being aware of your strengths. If anything, it only serves to make you better at them, by acknowledging that you could improve in certain areas.
Work together to solve problems and mistakes.
At the heart of any successful team is the ability to solve problems together. It isn’t always down to the captain in charge, it’s about the team coming together. Mistakes are only so if we don’t learn from them. So, what can you do to play your part in the bigger picture? Everyone has a role to play – make yours count!
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