The article shows some of the practical skills required of working in a team. The article Teamwork Concepts shares the ideas of why a team is necessary and what it takes to have a successful team.

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 

The key to team work is maintaining a balance between company requirements (such as shareholder return; market share; customer satisfaction; and work output and improvement) and employee needs (including source of livelihood; social interaction; direction, structure and control; and identity, purpose and self-worth).

14 Things to Do to Develop as a Team Member

1. All Opinions Counted and Listened To

Every Job and Person is Important. Show It with your word language, tone, and body language. Practice MMFI – Make Me Feel Important – to others.

“Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.” Phillip Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield

Stop talking and start asking questions. Then really listen to the answers. Try to determine what the person is actually saying and why.This is called active listening. It will often take you 75% of the way to the resolution.

“It’s not what you tell your players that counts. It’s what they hear.” Red Auerbach

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19b

Learning how to listen to others is the number 1 people skill you need to learn. You will never accomplish much unless you understand how to work with people by first learning to listen to them. There are a lot of good books and articles on this subject. Seek these out, learn, and practice.

2. Develop Conversational Skills

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” Theodore Roosevelt

Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.  Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. Proverbs 13:2-3

Learning to carry a conversational is a skill anyone can learn.There are rules for being a good conversationalist. Learn how to reach out to others – not make them reach out to you. I have seen many gifted, skilled, and honest people not succeed because they did not have people skills. You can be the best at anything and still fail!

This article is too short to do this but there are many resources available on the internet.

3. Communicate Constructively

To be a valuable team player, you must be able to express your thoughts and ideas clearly, directly, honestly and with respect for others. Show respect for all people all of the time.

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” Theodore Roosevelt

Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.  Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. Proverbs 13:2-3

4. When There is Conflict Stop 

Be the first to stop talking and scale back the rhetoric. To continue to press in to make your point will not help things. It may make you feel good, but it will damage the relationship.

Stop talking and start asking questions. Then really listen to the answers. Try to determine what the person is actually saying and why.This is called active listening. It will often take you 75% of the way to the resolution.

“Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.” Phillip Stanhope Earl of Chesterfield

Here are some other points when there is conflict:

Always assume the best

Be tolerate when others make a mistake. Treat them how you want to be treated. Because you will make a mistake one day yourself and you will reap what you sow.

5. No Gossip Allowed

Nobody likes being talked about. You lower you own esteem in others eye when you do.

“Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.” Spanish Proverb

A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers. Proverbs 20:19

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

Nobody likes being talked about. You lower you own esteem in others eye when you do.

Guard one another’s backs!Don’t ever talk about someone else. If you have a problem with your pastor or someone else go to him in private. Matthew 18:18describes the Biblical procedure for how to approach someone talking about you.

Get to know your team and then defend them to the death. Let others know that you stick together and watch out for one another. Be loyal to one another. Resolve conflict quickly.

6. Submit Individual Will to Greater Purpose

You must engage in what the team is doing and not just work on what interests you. Take the initiative and help make things happen with an attitude of “What contribution can I make to help the team achieve success?”

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships” – Michael Jordan

7. No Prima Donnas

Definition:  conceited, difficult person: somebody who is regarded as demanding and difficult to please.

Enough Said.

8. Don’t Be Easily Offended

There are the people who you have to be careful around or they get offended. If you are one of these quit it. Learn to develop a thick skin. When you become offended it is almost always immaturity on your part.

9. Walk in Humility

Nobody likes being around arrogant people.

James 4:6  ⁶But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Only the humble receive wisdom and guidance from God. Pride goes before a fall.

EX: Developer at work was the best – but was so condescending nobody wanted to work with him.

10. Open Sharing/Knowledge Transfer

Be willing to share information, knowledge, and experience. Take the initiative to keep other team members informed both formally and on a day-to-day “touching base.”

“There is no delight in owning anything unshared.” Seneca

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 12:15

Don’t hide information in order to get power. A smoothly running organization is open and transparent.

Make your goal to make everybody better around you!

There is a difference between a critical and criticism. Don’t manipulate or play games.

It’s important that you talk to each other often. Don’t play the game of saying what you think others want you to say. It’s important to be honest with each other but in a nice way.

11. Regular Parties/Celebrations to Build Community

Productivity goes up when you like who you are working with. Classical ministry training says don’t get close to your people. I disagree.

Great teamwork is developed when you have fun and play together. Laugh and enjoy each other. A religious spirit will try to rob you in this area. God has created us with the capacity to enjoy not just Him but each other and the rest of His creation.

Did you know that God has a great sense of humor? He loves laughter and your teams should be full of fun!

12. Reliable

People should be able to count on you to do your fair share in working hard and meeting commitments. Consistency is crucial. Being on time is important too. Your team should be able to count on you to deliver good performance all the time, not just some of the time.

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” – Dietrich Bonhoffer

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.  Proverbs 22:1

13. Problem Solver Not Problem Complainer

It is usually easy to spot the problem. It is much harder to find a solution. Don’t point out a problem without being willing to help find the solution.

Don’t blame others for the problem. While it may be true, it will not help progress to move forward. If you show mercy, then when you make a mistake, mercy will be shown you.

Good team players figure out ways to solve problems and get work done in spite of differences they may have with one another on an individual level.

“There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being – to help someone succeed.” Alan Loy McGinnis

14. Flexible

Change is the norm when you’re working in a team environment. Good team players flow and adapt to these conditions. They don’t complain or get stressed out because something new is tried or some new direction is being set.

“I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times.” Everett Dirkson