How to Be a Star Performer: Teamwork

Aug 27, 2019

This week's microlearning subject is the seventh in a nine-part series from the book "How to be a Star at Work: 9 Breakthrough Strategies You Need to Succeed" by Robert E Kelley.

The seventh strategy is TEAMWORK.

Teamwork gets a lot of lip service but research shows that it's the least rewarded activity for a corporate worker. As such, stars limit their involvement in and maximize their use of time on teams. How can you replicate their behaviors?

Ask yourself whether you're appropriate for the team, whether the team really needs you, your knowledge, your expertise, your point of view, to get the job done. Are you critical to its success?
Stars are selective about team commitments. Consider only those teams that are absolutely required for you to complete your work at a high level of productivity, that are necessary to build goodwill with your work colleagues, or that you want to join for personal reasons.
What do you do when you have a problem with the team? Stars go to their supervisor and explain their position, using the critical path argument. Stars may ask their boss to prioritize new assignments within the existing ones. If stars think they are wrong for the job they will excuse themselves.
Stars don't leave others in the lurch, rather they will suggest qualified candidates to take their place.
Stars work to ensure every team member agrees on the mission, roles, and goals.
Stars make sure they produce their work on schedule an renegotiate deadlines if problems occur.
Stars are also open to the perspectives of team members on their completed work.
Stars also look beyond their own assignment to the teams functioning , and they check for an equitable division of tasks.
Stars can be counted on to do more, pitching in to meet the deadline.
Stars are comfortable in the face of criticism. They are quick to make corrections based on sound critiques.
On a team morale level, star players are also watching for those members who are pushed to the background. Stars recognize that some of the most insightful comments come from those who do more listening than talking.

By using these strategies, you'll maximize your time and increase your output.

Watch the video to learn more about how you can use teams and teamwork to build your effectiveness in your current role and bolster yourself for your whole career.

This week is the perfect time to pin point the status of your career with this free download: Career Zones Worksheet. Check it out today!