Dating back to the 20th Century, the concept of teaming took over the work force by storm when it came to making organizational decisions or resolving business challenges.
The approach has prevailed into the 21st Century.
As a result of the team approach, the terms, collaboration, team player, diverse backgrounds, coaching, winning, challenges, opportunities for improvement, common language, and common focus were implanted into organizational dictionaries and cultures; requiring any new recruits and hires to organizations to be current and proficient in their knowledge of and their ability and capacity to be part of a team.
Nevertheless, how do we know for sure when the team we are on is the right one for us?
Athletes join teams and need to play at least a few games with their teammates before they are able to decide whether the team they are on is the right fit for them.
We, in our business organizations, need a chance to work closely with people for at least a few years (and, in some cases a few months!) before we really know if the team is just right for us; and if we are just right for the team.
The fit works two ways because of the diverse personalities that may be common to a team we join, and observations of and interactions with those personalities will assist us in knowing if the match is a good one.
Here are just several examples of some of the diverse teammate personalities we may come across:
The Type-A, Charismatic Teammate
Here is a mover and shaker who does not mind telling others that he or she is fallible because prior experiences have usually caused the person to be very comfortable in his or her skin and content with current reality. Relationship building and preserving is critical to this individual, so you may frequently see or hear him or her networking or “schmoozing” through visions and ideas with others to make sure they are on the same right track toward a desired destination. Researching and pulling things together…quickly by tapping into his or her resources of other movers and shakers…tends to be a strength, and this person typically freely offers and welcomes coaching if it means the team will win in both the short-term and long-term.
The Type-A, Reclusive Teammate
Another mover and shaker who is not infallible, but may be a little shy about that fact so he or she may attempt to stay out of the limelight for fear of making a mistake that would be visible to an audience of any size. Getting the job done usually takes precedence over spending moments building bonds with other people – that may even be looked at as unnecessary “fluff” which causes the person feelings of discomfort. You may not see this person openly asking for help even when it is badly needed, however, when others go to him or her for help it is gladly given because the “thanks” received serves to boost the reclusive’s self-esteem.
The Type-B, Extroverted Teammate
One might think this person is an unorganized airhead who is “surprisingly” able to meet deadlines and accomplish great things for the organization. Some of the Type-A’s may become completely annoyed by these folks during meetings because their dialogue may be viewed as a little to “warm and fuzzy” for a business culture. Likewise, this Type B may try to avoid all Type A’s because they may perceive them as too assertive and forthright in their approach.
The Type-B, Reclusive Teammate
Products and results from this person may be the sole reminders to the other teammates that this individual is in fact part a living and breathing part of the team. He or she may not mind being closed up in an office sifting through bundles of paperwork to meet required deadlines described during team meetings he or she generally sits at in silent attendance.
The Mad Scientist Who Never Leaves the Lab Teammate
This teammate may often propose great ideas…many of them…however, he or she hardly ever acts on the ideas or carries them through to fruition. The person may always appear busy and entrenched in constructing new thoughts; unfortunately, the large number of thoughts muddled in the person’s mind takes him or her all over the map without a clear vision. Constant re-direction may be needed for this person, and going over ideas one by one and charting them in some type of graphical form may help focus the thinking.
The Flower Child Who Is Always Out Mingling With Other People Teammate
Networking. That is what tends to drive this person who may seem to other teammates to be from another planet or another era. However, whenever the team wants to broach a new idea or vision; just a scroll down on the person’s contact list will generally yield a name or organization that can be contacted for assistance.
Photo: Copyright PhotoXpress.comIt is hard to determine which of these members are part of a new team we are considering joining. Only time will tell.
We should spend enough time carefully studying and observing the behaviors of our teammates as well as our own behaviors during the teaming relationship.
Tapping into the strengths and avoiding too much focus on everyone’s areas that are still improving lends itself to the building and maintenance of dynamic and healthy teams.
Some teams will fit well for us. Others will not.
However, this is something we won’t be able to determine until after “the first pitch is thrown, and several innings have passed."
Each player brings something to the team -- we just need time to figure out what that something is.
If we believe the team we are on is one worth pursuing we can spend time strategizing with our individual teammates so that when the time comes to huddle as a collaborative team we come up with a common focus for a winning plan.
Sharon M. Biggs, M.A., is a wife, mother, and 21st Century educational leader & school district administrator who serves as Co-Chair & President of Lifeline Foundation, Inc. This 24-year
educator is also Founder, Editor, and Chief Writer of LifelineExtensions.blog. View other published works at http://www.examiner.com/. Contact Sharon directly for more information: smbiggs@mylifelinefoundation.org.
"Children are the globe's most precious commodity."
(Terence H. Biggs, Jr. ~ 2009)
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