No matter what your position in your organization, being viewed as a team player will get you far.
These are six key characteristics of key players. How many of them do you possess?
Trait #1: A positive attitude
Sure, a dose of realism is important. But no one would pick “Debbie Downer” from those Saturday Night Live skits for his or her team. You don’t have to be a Pollyanna, but an upbeat attitude can keep a team going even when the going gets a little tough.
Trait #2: Empathy
Often the most effective teams are comprised of different people with different perspectives and experiences. But even if you are coming from a very different place than your teammates, the ability to empathize with them can keep the team working together. It also helps cultivate a culture of mutual respect among teammates.
Trait #3: High standards
Slackers need not apply. Teams thrive when members set high standards not only for themselves but for each other as well. (But you can’t have one and not the other.)
Trait #4: Timeliness
Sometimes when you’re a part of a team it can feel like a monumental effort to get anything done. Reaching consensus can be a struggle. That’s why true team players are able to resolve problems quickly.
Trait #5: Leadership
The best team players are strong leaders, too. You don’t have to take the reins the whole time (in fact, that probably wouldn’t go over too well with other team members). But being able to step up and lead the team at times is a great trait to have.
Trait #6: Humility
Just because you may be capable of leading your team to great success doesn’t mean you should go around broadcasting that. The best team players possess a healthy dose of humility, too.
