Teamwork really does make the dream work! Here, we’re sharing our tips for being the best team player—whether it’s for your family, group of friends or colleagues:
1. Do your homework. “A big part of being a great teammate for me is doing my ‘homework.’ It’s so important for each of us to do our part. Coming in to work every day being prepared for the new day is so vital to the rehearsal process. We’re all working towards the same goal of a spectacular performance, so taking care of yourself and continuing to work on the routines makes for a great teammate.” —Rockette Megan K.
2. Be each others cheerleaders. “I like to say I have my pom poms in my back pockets cheering on my fellow Rockettes at all times during the Christmas and non-Christmas season. One year I even made my own Rockette #1 foam finger and brought it into work.” —Rockette Rachel B.
3. Make the environment fun. “I love decorating the dressing room for the season. It usually takes a couple of days to put up all of the decorations, but it’s always a team effort. I love that we all come together with fun ideas about where we should hang the lights or string the garland. I get so excited to see the finished product knowing we all worked together to make our home away from home even more festive!” —Rockette Brittany S.
4. Make each other laugh. “During the Christmas season, we always keep each other laughing and it’s so powerful. Laughter can change your entire day. Plus, laughing is the best ab workout!” —Rockette Aly M.
5. Be there for one another. “Some girls don’t live in NYC full-time which usually means that they don’t get to spend the holidays with family; and that can be hard. I always open up my home for them and invite them over to holiday gatherings.” —Rockette Christine S.
6. Lift each other up. “When we know someone is going through a hard time or just having a rough day, we try and do whatever we can to support them and give them what they need in order to be able to get through the shows. Whether that means sleep, some good jams to pull them out of a funk, a good laugh, a good meal and glass of wine, a group hang or just a hug and a cry.” —Rockette Sagan R.
1. It’s Not What You Say, but How You Say It
This is a simple, but important one. Consider your word choice when interacting with your colleagues. Choosing to say “we” instead of “I” is a small gesture, but it’s a gesture that can go a long way in recognizing the contributions of others.
At my company, City Wide Franchise, we have all become accustomed to referring to the whole group, rather than to certain individuals. Communicating in this way strengthens our bonds and gives us greater purpose.
2. Keep All Lines of Communication Open
Whether you communicate with your team through email, weekly webinars, team meetings, or one-on-one meetings, it’s important that you use some method to foster ongoing, clear, and consistent communication. Doing so ensures that nothing gets lost in translation and that everyone is held accountable to deadlines.
At City Wide Franchise, we use a tool called Asana, which is designed to help teams collaborate more efficiently. Instead of using email, we create projects, assign tasks to team members, and track progress through an online dashboard.
3. Have an Open Mindset
Nothing ever goes exactly as planned. This is especially true when it comes to working in a group environment. One team member can present a new approach that changes the direction of an entire project.
Rather than challenging or contradicting opposing viewpoints, an effective team player will demonstrate flexibility, embrace change, and show a willingness to try something new and different.
4 Don’t Forget to Celebrate
Great team players celebrate the successes of their teammates.
One way to recognize fellow teammates is to include a “shoutouts” section in the company newsletter, where team members and team leaders can acknowledge their colleagues great work. Another effective recognition tool is to set aside some time during team meetings for team members to stand up and acknowledge their coworkers’ efforts.
It is incredibly important to celebrate team victories. At City Wide Franchise, we hold a monthly scorecard meeting that we use to measure and share group and company-wide successes. We also host off-site celebrations to show our appreciation for groups that exceed expectations.
It’s not hard to be a team player, and learning to become one will help you advance your career to new heights. Really, it’s all about refocusing your mindset: stop thinking about yourself as an individual at work, and start thinking about yourself as an important part of an overall team. Do this, and you’ll make a name for yourself as a real asset to your company.
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