Conventional wisdom dictates that a good team player is someone who is always willing to put the good of the whole above personal interests. While true, we, as individuals, want credit for whatever our contribution was. After all, without that, how will the boss know the difference between your work ethic and value to the company compared to that of sir and madame slacks-a-lot? By the same token, the office suck-up is not exactly the most respected person on the team and others may even refuse to work with him or her. Follow these simple tips to improve your interpersonal skills and avoid becoming the under- appreciated but irreplaceable wallflower.

1. Ask questions. Research the project and go to the first group meeting prepared with intelligent questions about the project and do not be afraid to speak up quickly. Be sure to actually pay attention to the given information to avoid asking something that has already been answered. If you are one of the workers who consistently asks important questions, the boss will remember you more easily and will see that you have done the required “homework.”

2. Smile and listen. You may think someone else’s idea is poorly founded and completely worthless, but after all, you want others to listen to yours.

3. Make others feel appreciated. This is not about false cotton candy fluff, but rather being courteous and helpful to colleagues. It doesn’t matter if you are the best at your job if no one will work with you because of attitude issues. When a team member helps with something, thank him or her – do not take it for granted. If a colleague has a brilliant idea, congratulate him or her and help support it with good ideas of your own.

4. Pick up the slack. Even if an associate is not working as hard as you, it reflects badly on all participants if the project fails. Perhaps the straggling worker is confused or has hit the proverbial mental wall. Bosses notice (even if they don’t immediately acknowledge) employees who are willing to help out their colleagues. Even if you feel as though no one noticed, it is much better than standing out as the person who didn’t assist his or her partner.

5. Mediate conflict. Sometimes an impartial third party in a dispute is the best way to help both combatants see a different perspective on an issue. Disagreements can be difficult to diffuse by the individuals involved if it is over an important issue. Emotion, not logic, all too often leads the way. Be careful not to take sides – instead show the good points in each person’s argument.

6. Know your strengths and improve on weaknesses. If you’re the slowest typist in the office, a project meeting is not the time to improve. Work on weak skills in personal time, and ensure the success of the team project by volunteering to do what you excel at. It will really impress and surprise the boss, however, if you (not known as the best negotiator) are able to show that you have mastered new negotiating techniques.

While some of these ideas may not obviously pertain to helping you get noticed, but becoming known as the employee who is great to work with will earn you more and more projects. People don’t want to work with the heartless cut throat, but rather someone who has not only proven his or her intelligence and capability, but also has shown their willingness to consider others’ opinions.

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Bethany Stringer is a graduate of Texas A&M University (class of ‘08) and has her B.A. in English Literature with minors in History and Psychology. Writing her first story at the age of 5 (with help from Mom), Bethany still enjoys writing and researching about everything from business and history to travel and fiction. Enamored with languages, she plans to teach English in Russia in 2010 as a CELTA certified teacher. She owned her own business working horses when she was 17, and still loves riding her horse Romeo. Always appreciating a challenge, she loves sea kayaking and prefers Rachmaninov to Bach.

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So, remember all of that stuff that we were taught in grade school about working on a team?  The whole idea that we, as children and later as adults, we’re supposed to look past differences, failings of others, and other general attitude unpleasantries in order to function as a single unit?  Apparently, some people never got that memo.  We’ve all had to work with them at some point – the arrogant and seemingly worthless individual who somehow still keeps a job or the resident next-top-model wannabe who thinks that low cut tops compensate for a total lack of creativity and good work ethic?  It’s unfortunate, but these people must be dealt with and in such a way as to make you look good instead of like the office bickerer.  Here are some simple things to remember the next time the office busybody gets in your face about your poor work ethic since you didn’t eat lunch at your desk (even though everybody else did).

1.      Avoid office cliques. People tend to divide over issues based on group loyalty as much as they do for principles.  It is tempting (and maybe unconscious) to side with the group that you feel the most connected with even if they don’t have the best solution.  Stay focused on the key issues and evaluate options with an open mind.

2.      Don’t let situations escalate. Getting into a shouting match doesn’t impress the boss and will not win you friends or help make a point.  If you cannot handle the situation with self-control, walk away and calm down.  Later you and your colleague can calmly and rationally address the issue.

3.      Ask a neutral observer to mediate. If you find yourself in a verbal dispute in the office, ask a co-worker from a different department to help.  The impartial individual will be better able to break the issue into its basic and most important elements.

4.      Don’t be afraid of head-to-head competition. Avoid lambasting your competition with petty accusations.  If you feel that the person chosen for a specific task is not the best choice, suggest that you and he or she each do the task allowing the boss to chose whose project is best.  Your willingness to prove your ability instead of simply assuming your superiority will impress the boss.

5.      Respect personality differences. Everyone can’t have the same attitude – some must be willing to follow and lead.  The occasionally overly aggressive self-starter may not realize that his or her enthusiasm and up front way of handling issues seems abrasive to other co-workers.  Likewise, the quiet, retiring individual in the office does not understand that his or her shyness appears as snobbery and aloofness to some colleagues.  Try to see things as someone else does, and petty slights can be more easily understood.

6.      Don’t expect others to be mind readers. If you consistently have issues with one particular co-worker, figure out specifically what about his or her attitude or manner of conducting business is irritating.  Take the time when both of you are not busy to explain (not lecture) what bothers you.  It may be surprising to learn that the person didn’t even realize how he or she was being perceived.

Dealing with office “team” conflicts is just an unfortunate part of work life.  It sucks, may not be your fault, but keep these tips in mind the next time you want to fly off at a co-worker.  Personal control will get you noticed in a positive way by your boss and (most) colleagues.

Bethany Stringer is a graduate of Texas A&M University (class of ‘08) and has her B.A. in English Literature with minors in History and Psychology. Writing her first story at the age of 5 (with help from Mom), Bethany still enjoys writing and researching about everything from business and history to travel and fiction. Enamored with languages, she plans to teach English in Russia in 2010 as a CELTA certified teacher. She owned her own business working horses when she was 17, and still loves riding her horse Romeo. Always appreciating a challenge, she loves sea kayaking and prefers Rachmaninov to Bach.

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We hear it time and time again; the purpose of bringing together a team is to create synergy. Rub two 1’s together and end up with a 3. Accomplish larger goals than any one person could possibly achieve alone. The list of good reasons for pulling together a dynamic team is endless, but creating this oh so elusive perfect mix is easier said than done.

The first step is finding a diverse group of people, each with a unique personal brand which can fill a necessary gap. Once you’ve got the right people, you’re unfortunately only halfway there. Now the molding has to begin. Here are six necessities to help you form those separate individuals into one,  fluid masterpiece. Why six you ask? Because  five is boring and seven is far too overplayed.

1. Understanding: First, there needs to be an absolute sense of understanding when working on a team. A group of people working together will tend to fight in order to get the largest piece of pie for themselves. A team, on the other hand, recognizes the unique value brought forward by each members personal brand and allows the larger goals of the team to come before personal gain.
2. Creative Abrasion: Conflict is good, and any smart, motivated, and driven group of individuals will realize that a clash of ideas is a necessary aspect of progression. It forces us to take a hard look at validation, raises the energy level, and brings out passions. It is important to solve conflict in a constructive manner, but never shy away from a valuable dispute.
3. Strong leadership: This one is a given. Without clear leadership, expectations become vague, visions are scattered, and time is wasted. Good leaders lead by example, constant participation, and sheer charisma. A great leader knows how to embody the vision and mission of the team simply through actions alone.
4. Personal Development: Each person has to understand the unique value they bring to the group and be open to learn from the expertise of others as well. It is not good enough to simply excel in your own niche, a team environment gives you the ability to expand and learn new things out of your comfort zone while teaching others simultaneously. A team that constantly supports one another is key for  personal and team development.
5. Shared Values: It takes work, but actively establishing shared values is crucial when working on a team. These shared values create common goals, allowing everyone to effortlessly move forward in the same direction. These values also become the team’s code of behavior because they define what is and what is not acceptable. These values take the form of both corporate objectives and individual values.
6. Embrace Your Personal Brand: Encourage diversity by leveraging each person’s individuality. True energy, synergy, and value is created by throwing a diverse crew together and constantly building upon the core competencies of each individual member. The varying perspectives, inevitable conflicts, and cross pollination of ideas is invaluable. Very little in life is more rewarding than working on a team with a diverse spectrum of individuals that have somehow managed to fit together seamlessly, and in do so, created something great.

Evan Watson

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