Successful teamwork is not a destination, it is truly a journey, and a journey that continually evolves and changes. The secret to being a terrific teammate is recognizing that it takes practice, and lots of it. We all have what it takes to be terrific! The big question is; how terrific are you?
Read the following 20 statements and score yourself using the following scale of 1 to 5:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| I don’t even think of doing this |
When I think of this, I try to do it |
I sometimes do this if it is convenient |
I usually do this |
I always do this, even when I don’t want to |
_____ 1. I know how I prefer to be treated at work, and how to specifically ask for that kind of treatment
_____ 2. I have a plan for creating effective workplace relationships
_____ 3. I continually ask myself, “Do I intend on keeping the commitment that I have just made?”
_____ 4. If I screw up, I immediately own my mistake
_____ 5. When I make a mistake, I do whatever I can to mend the relationship I may have damaged
_____ 6. If a co-worker behaves in an unethical or illegal manner, I confront the person without threatening
_____ 7. When I disagree, but feel that my voice is heard, I will commit to the team’s decision
_____ 8. I hold my teammates accountable for their commitments and expect them to do the same for me
_____ 9. I provide honest feedback to my teammates
_____ 10. I work diligently to build trust with all of my teammates
_____ 11. Whenever possible, I help my teammates with their projects
_____ 12. I consider the underlying mission of the team before my personal goals and objectives
_____ 13. I know personal information about my teammates to help build a cohesive team
_____ 14. I will volunteer for new tasks and projects to help both myself and our team grow
_____ 15. I am open to new ideas for the growth of the team
_____ 16. I help my team celebrate our successes
_____ 17. I approach each new day with a positive attitude regardless of the previous day’s outcome
_____ 18. I work on my personal development on a regular basis
_____ 19. I communicate clearly and without hidden agendas
_____ 20. I am completely honest with myself and my teammates
| Less than 69 | 68 – 74 | 75 – 82 | 83 – 90 | 91 – 100 |
| Your results may suffer because it is difficult for you to work successfully with others | You miss out on the benefits of working with others and might hurt the image of the team | You understand what you should be doing and accomplish when it is convenient to your agenda | Very strong at technical skills. You are considered good at relationships and a good teammate | Outstanding! You’re poised for teammate of the year and are terrific at drawing out the strengths of others |
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Image courtesy of Dawn (Willis) Manser
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