“Team”. “Teamwork”. “Teammate”. “Team Player”.
Is this all Greg talks about? How many teams is this guy on?
I’m on a lot of teams. And so are you.
Don’t believe me? Then let me explain.
My teams
I’ve been on countless teams in my life. I played sports growing up. I serve alongside others at our church. My job involves working with cross-functional groups.
Being on teams is a big part of my life experience.
How about you?
Are you on a team now? Does this teamwork stuff apply to you?
Trust me. It does.
You’re a member of more teams than you realize.
For me, recognizing that I’m on a team is my first step toward having the mindset of a team member. I can then have a much greater positive impact on the people around me.
I believe it can do the same for you.
A one-minute exercise
Let’s do a quick exercise. Grab a pencil and a piece of paper or open an app to take notes.
Got it? Okay.
Take one minute and make a list of the teams you’ve been on at any time in your life.
You have sixty seconds. Ready. Set. Go! (Music from Jeopardy plays in the background)
Time’s up.
What teams are on your list?
I suspect you have things like volleyball team, basketball team, staff at work, vacation bible school committee, new product development team, things like that. Your list is probably pretty long.
Keep that list. We’re going to add to it.
First, though, I need to share the definition of “team” I’m using.
“Team” defined
Merriam-Webster.com defines a team as “a number of persons associated together in work or activity“.
That’s a very broad definition. I like it and that’s the one I use.
Invest one more minute
Now I want you to repeat the exercise you just did but this time use the definition above.
Keep in mind, “a number of persons” can be just you and one other person.
You have another 60 seconds. Ready. Set. Go! (Roll that Jeopardy music again)
Pencils down.
How many teams did you add to your list?
If you really thought about the definition I gave you, sixty seconds wasn’t enough time to even get started.
The list is endless.
So what?
Okay, Greg. I’m on a bunch of teams. What’s your point?
My point is this.
Having the mindset of a teammate can be a game changer for you and the people you work with. Your teammates.
Being aware of the teams you’re on is the first step. But not the last one.
Your teammates need you
This is the most important answer to the question of “So what?”
Your teammates need you. You are important to their success.
Look back at the second part of the list you made.
Did you write down teams that you hadn’t thought about before? Those teams you just now realized you’re on represent opportunities to make an impact in people’s lives.
If you’re on a team, you can make a difference to your teammates. Even if you only have one other person on that team. They matter. They are important and so are you. You both have important roles to fill.
You have experience. Put it to use.
We have all been on some sort of team at some point in our lives. Our lists show that. Every one of us knows at least a little about teamwork.
You have experience.
You’ve learned lessons about what works and what doesn’t work.
Your experience on teams may have been enjoyable or something you never want to go through again. Either way, you’ve got experience.
I encourage you to think about what you already know from the teams you listed first. How can you apply that knowledge to the teams you listed in the second part of your list?
Your investment in those obvious teams, your time, sweat, and tears, produced experience in you. Put it to use wherever you can.
It’s valuable. It’s valuable to you. It’s even more valuable to your teammates.
Learn more and get even better
You’ve got experience. You’ve got ample opportunities to apply that experience and help your teammates.
You’re all set, right? Nothing more to do?
Wrong.
I encourage you to keep getting better. Learn to be an even better teammate.
This is why I hope you keep reading my posts and sharing with others in the comments.
We may be good, even great, members of our teams. But we can still learn more and grow.
If this blog isn’t helping you do that, please let me know how to improve. What’s the best way to do that?
Click here to subscribe to my weekly email newsletter.
We can exchange ideas on what I need to change.
I want you to be the best teammate you can be. For yourself and for the people on your team.
What can we do right now to be an even better teammate?
We’ve done a lot already in this article. We’ve got a list of our obvious teams and our not so obvious teams.
This list by itself equips us to shift our mindset so we can have an even bigger positive impact on people.
What else can we do?
I’m sure you have lots of great ideas. Please share them in the comments so others can learn from your experience.
If you’re stuck on how to get started, there are a few questions below to get you going.
My post Discover How to be a Better Teammate is loaded with resources too.
I’m glad you’re here. I want to learn from you. I want to teach you what I know.
We are learning and growing together.
I guess that makes us teammates, doesn’t it?
Let’s do something great.
Greg
Discussion Questions
- Who is one person from the teams on your list who you hadn’t previously thought of as your teammate? How can you help them be more successful?
- What team in your past was your most enjoyable and what is the most valuable experience from that team? How can you apply that experience to a team you’re on now?
- Think of one of the most important lessons you learned from a coach. Who would benefit if you shared that lesson with them?
- Which of your teammates has been on a team you know nothing about? Ask them to share their story and how their experience helps them in the work you’re doing together.
Great topic! I recognized some time back that I was stuck in a “lack” mentality. I would hold back from the team out of insecurity and was constantly in the mindset to compete and compare. So often, we are scripted to compete & I began to see this was a stumbling block for me. I recognized my need to see life more abundantly. There is plenty for all! Once I embraced an “Abundance Mentality” it was so freeing! It changed everything for me & the way I see teams.
Oh my, Christa, you are talking to me! I have such a challenge with having an “Abundance Mentality”. I focus on “Scarcity” instead and it is NOT good. It’s amazing (and sad), now that I’m recognizing it more, to see how I’ve let that “lack” mindset influence so many areas of my life for so long. I’m working on it and getting better, but I still have a long way to go. You are wise when you say this change of perspective is freeing and can change everything. Thanks for the comment and for the encouragement!