Click here to print your online guide for this lesson.
Why should you learn teamwork skills?
Teamwork implies an ability to get along with others, work collaboratively, build trust, be dependable, and offer support. Here are a few of the reasons having teamwork skills is so important:
- Teamwork skills are some of the most valued skills in today’s job market.
- More than 80 percent of organizations employ multiple types of workplace teams.
- Teamwork skills help you work effectively, synthesize knowledge, and even learn more deeply than working individually.
- Teamwork skills can help you to problem solve collaboratively, communicate effectively, and to deal with diversity and conflict.
* Where would you like to work and why would having good team skills help you get and keep a job there?
What does Steve Young have to say about teamwork?
On or off the field, in or out of the office, wherever you choose to work, you are going to need good “soft skills” to get those really good jobs. Teamwork skills top the list of important “soft skills.” Steve Young, football hall of famer, recognizes the importance of being a team player and the value of soft skills. He was so successful because he learned to assess a situation through the perspective of his teammates and to understand their personal incentives. Young was able to inspire them individually and improve their communication and coordination on the field. Listen to what Young has to say in this University of Stanford video clip. * Then write one or two sentences summarizing Young’s message.
What do you know about your team skills?
Getting your arms around what it takes to work on a team takes some thought. Perhaps you have never learned how to effectively work on a team and therefore, feel at a disadvantage when you work in a collaborative environment. Perhaps you strongly prefer to work alone. Take this short Team Player Assessment and review your responses, then read this article about the six qualities of a good team player. * Which of the six qualities do you think is the most important? Which of the six qualities do you want to improve?
A good team needs to have diverse players. Each player brings his/her unique ideas and perspective to a team, to help the team solve problems and reach its goals. In addition, different team members and play different roles on a team. The Team Roles Preferences Scale estimates the role you prefer when you participate in team activities. The instrument calculates your preferences based on five team roles: encourager, gatekeeper, harmonizer, initiator, and summarizer. Complete the Team Roles Preference exercise and print your analysis. * According to this Team Preference Exercise, what are your preferred roles and why do you agree or disagree with the predictions?
None of us is as smart as all of us. Japanese Proverb