How to be a Good Team Member

Sometimes the way we see ourselves is different from the way others see us. Anyone who has interacted with another person can probably recount a funny story about how a well-meaning comment was misinterpreted by another person.

Today on the podcast, we are going to be talking about a few things you can do to evaluate how you show up as a team member and three things we can all do to become better team members. We start this conversation by talking about intention versus experience. We first need to determine how our verbal or nonverbal actions are being interpreted by others before diving deeper into knowing what is needed of us.

We start this conversation by talking about intention versus experience. We first need to determine how our verbal or nonverbal actions are being interpreted before diving deeper into knowing what is needed of us.

This episode originally aired in 2017. With many of us interacting with team members in a virtual socially distant way during this pandemic, we thought it might help. There are some really good nuggets of wisdom and plenty of helpful reminders and tips.

Before we originally recorded what you’re about to hear, we sent a survey to our team, asking them what they thought about us as team members, and if they could provide any suggestions or feedback for improvement, we’ll share those results towards the end.

Three Things that Make a good Team Member

Of course, there are many things you might add to a list like this. But we’ve boiled all of them down into just three. After you read them (and listen to our further explanations in the episode), leave us a comment and tell us what else you might add to a list like this.

Assume Positive Intent

When we assume positive intent, we reserve judgment, criticism, or other negative connotations until we have all the facts and information. How often have you sent or received an email that makes you upset and yet after having a face to face conversation with the person, you realize the way you interpreted their meaning was completely different from their intent?

Make an Effort to Know and Understand other Team Members Strengths

When we are able to fully understand someone’s Strengths, we have a better handle on where they are coming from. This makes us a good team member because, rather than becoming annoyed or frustrated with a person, we can appreciate what they are bringing to the table.

Conversely, when our Strengths are known to the team, we can not only live out more of who we are, but we can contribute in ways that are actually helpful.

Ask Lots of Questions for Clarity

Good team members ask lots of questions. Not the annoying, unanswerable questions of a four year old (“Dadda, why do birds exist?”) but questions that help us to better understand what is going on.

This is not only helpful when trying to ascertain the intent behind a comment, but especially when trying to determine exactly what someone is asking you to do. Sometimes, we’re afraid to ask questions for fear of looking ignorant, or admitting we don’t have all the answers. By fostering a culture that allows for a plethora of questions to be asked, we enable each other to become better team members.