Not everyone can be a star performer, but anyone can be a star teammate.
Great teammates operate from the view that team is to be held above their own self-interest. And they act accordingly.
Of the many qualities that define a great team member, one stands out above all others. Not because it is difficult or arcane, but because it serves as a catalyst for so many of the other attributes that contribute to outstanding teamwork.
A great team member owns every problem faced by the team as their own, and they take responsibility for addressing it.
Armed with a view that suggests that any issue, challenge, problem, or conundrum faced by a teammate is also theirs, they show up very differently than most colleagues.
When fueled by a commitment to be fully accountable for everything that occurs within the team, it is no surprise they become an indefatigable source of help, assistance, problem-solving, and constructive feedback.
When a team member owns any and all problems faced by the team or one of its members, they refuse to let others down in their quest to make situations and people better. Their dependability inspires others to do the same.
Great teammates are not always cheerleaders, nor do they always carry an uplifting message. They are more likely to push, prod, and cajole their colleagues to address team issues while doing their best to offer solutions, insights, and new strategies to overcome any impediment that undermines team effectiveness.
They don’t wait to be asked to chip in or to contribute. They show up and get to work, completing their own tasks while scanning the horizon for team challenges.
If someone on the team needs to be comforted or encouraged, they do so. If another colleague needs to be held accountable, they don’t wait for the leader to step in. Whatever needs to be done, they do it.
Everyone on the team soon understands their good intentions and reliability, so they turn to them for help, counsel, and feedback. Their star power is not about advanced skill or acumen, but rather arises from their emergent leadership and their unrelenting desire to make the team better.
Like stars in the sky, they shine brightest when it is darkest, never accepting defeat or allowing adversity to undermine their commitment.
Star teammates are rare. Good leaders aren’t threatened by them in the least. They embrace them, reward them, and hope their dedication to the team rubs off on others.
How many star teammates are on your team? They don’t exist without the support of leaders who view them as an asset and not competition.
A Daily Dispatch from the Front Lines of Leadership.
