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L
EARNING
TO
L
EARN
: B
ECOMING
A
S
ELF
-G
ROWER
219
E
XPERIENCE
8: P
ERFORMING
IN
T
EAMS
AND WITHIN
A
C
OMMUNITY
READING
Below are some characteristics and traits that are associated with people who have strong teamwork skills
and are strong team players.
Table 2
Profile of a Strong Team Player
Affective
Issues
•
respects the opinions and values of others
•
allows team members the freedom to fulfill their assigned
tasks and provides assistance when needed
•
takes pride in the team and its members
General
Behaviors
•
accepts full responsibility for her/his role, actions, and
outcomes
•
is willing and eager to perform tasks that advance the
team’s performance
•
matches individual strengths with particular tasks
•
adapts to changing situations and team dynamics
•
makes positive contributions toward solving group problems
Assessment
and
Feedback
•
helps others improve their skills
•
continually assesses the progress of the team against the
mission statement
•
challenges the team to increase the efficiency and quality of
the processes they use
•
reflects on experiences and provides insights for
improvements or future changes
Social
Issues
•
seeks opportunities for collaboration and teamwork
•
is punctual and prepared for meetings
•
does not force his or her ideas onto others in decision-
making situations
Based on the preceding table, what kind of team player are you? Think about what personal resources or
skills you can bring to a team: Are you an organized note taker? Do you handle stress well? Do you have
any special technological or communications skills?
What strengths do you bring to a team?
Part of being a strong team player means understanding how your unique personal skills—your resources—
may be of use to a team. Following are the performance criteria for the most common team roles. As you
look these roles over, you may find you fit easily into one role, or you may find your skills and preferences
spanning several roles.