Working on a team

- [Narrator] Have you ever played on a sports team? Remember the ball hog? She was a real hmm, but wait, what about that time we did a group school project? Who was that nice guy who helped everyone out? Yeah, you probably should have given him more credit, huh? The reality is being part of a team in the workplace is a fact of life these days and employers want people who can bring out the best in each other. No jerks need apply. To be a good team player, there are some simple things to remember. First, get to know your teammates. I'm not saying you need to ask for their deepest darkest secrets, but hey, show an interest. Ask them, "What do you like to do in our spare time?" Or, "Are you a cat or dog person?" And be willing to share something about yourself like, "I love to knit," or, "I'm afraid of toddlers." You get the picture. Once you get to know your teammates, you will find things in common and that will make things more fun while you're getting the job done. Second, understand your team's common goal. Since most teams are made up of people with a variety of skills to handle different things, you need to figure out how you can contribute. Ask a question to clarify the goal. What is the most important thing we need to do? And what do you need me to do specifically? Third, don't make assumptions about other people, just don't. You are in charge of you. If you lead by example, you will find that often others will follow your good example or at least you can say you tried. Finally, be flexible. Teams exist because no one person can carry the whole load and there are definitely going to be days where you feel like you're doing more than your fair share, but there are also going to be days when someone has your back, so try and understand the give and take aspect of a team and you'll be golden. Go team.