Today is Friday, so this post is on interpersonal competence.
Interpersonally competent people are good team players. Recently, I read a Walk the Talk book by Joel Leskowitz called We’re # 1: A Story About…Teamwork. This is a fun, illustrated book. It is the story of the Word division of the ABC Language Factory. One day, the letter “I” decides to strike off on his own…and chaos results. It is a take off on the old adage that “there is no “I” in “team”.
We’re # 1 reminds me of John Guaspari’s clever book, about Punctuation Inc. on customer service: I Know It When I See It.
While the story is clever and engaging, I found Mr. Leskowitz’s advice on being a good team player to be the most valuable part of the book. On page 48, Mr. Leskowitz presents this advice in the form of a self assessment. Below, I have revised the items to present them as straightforward advice.
- Carry your share of the load on the teams of which you are a member.
- Look for opportunities to contribute to others’ success. Become known for asking “how can I help you?”
- Treat everyone in your workgroup as important and bring something special and needed to the team.
- Solicit others’ ideas and opinions regularly. Make a sincere effort to listen to what they have to say.
- Honestly consider others’ ideas and suggestions – especially when they run counter to your own thoughts.
- Avoid criticizing others behind their backs. When you have a problem with someone, deal with him or her directly and in a respectful manner.
- Share the spotlight when discussing accomplishments. Say “we” more often than “I”.
- Solicit, accept and be grateful for feedback from others. Use feedback to become a better team player.
- Recognize and thank others for their efforts and accomplishments regularly.
- When it’s necessary and appropriate, be willing to place the needs of the team before your own personal desires and goals.
This is good, common sense advice on becoming a great team player – an important skill that all interpersonally competent people have mastered. Think about these points. Make an honest assessment of yourself. Which ones describe you? Which ones don’t? do what it takes to make them all true for you.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense. Check out my other blog: www.CommonSenseGuy.com for common sense advice on leading people and running a small business.
I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
Bud
PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open. Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.
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