Seven Signs You are a Good Team Player

Team is a big word in the world of ILI. We call ourselves the ILI Team. Our current five-year goal is to build teams that are mobilized to equip leaders and multiplying the Eight Core Values in their nation. Our greatest strength are these awesome volunteer teams that are helping accelerate the spread of the Gospel from Iceland to Patagonia, from Mexico to Malaysia, and everywhere in between. A team is essentially a group of individuals that work together towards a shared vision and common goals.

Teams are made up of Individuals

Of course, every team is made up of individual persons – team members. I don’t know about you, but I have seen teams that work well together and dysfunctional ones. Of course leadership is essential for a team to function properly, but it is also true that a team is only as strong as the individuals that make it up.

What Kind of Team Member

There are quite a few professions and callings that are for individuals, but for the rest of us, to work means to be part of a team. Even individuals who work alone are part of some form of community. Whether it is a church or the Rotary Club, it will involve team work, so the question is relevant for pretty much everyone but the hermit living in a cabin up the mountain. Are you a good team member? 

What makes a Good Team Player

If we are all part of teams, in one way or another, being a good team player is essentially good for our health and for the health of the team as a whole. Here are seven traits that make a good team player.

1. Alignment with the Purpose. Good team players understand and are aligned with the purpose and goals of the team. They know why their team exist and what they want to accomplish – and agree wholeheartedly with these goals.

2. Honesty and Transparency. This should go without saying. The Apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians to “speak the truth in love” as a means to personal growth in Christ. 

3. Positive Attitude. One team member with a toxic attitude can seriously sabotage the team. Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring shortcomings, but focusing on finding solutions.

4. Loyalty. Team members who are loyal to the team leader and their team mates contribute to the success of the team.

5. Good Communication. A lot of team problems happen because people are left in the dark. Human nature is to fill any communication gaps with their imagination. There is no such thing as “overcommunicating.” Good team players communicate frequently, broadly, and with crystal clarity.

6. Good Conflict Management. Whenever two minds work together, there will be disagreements. Working in a team means having conflicts. Excellent team members address conflict quickly, directly, and with love.

7. Sense of Calling. Team members make the greatest contribution when they know they are in the right team, and in the right position within the group. 

If you are a leader, it means you lead at least one team. You are almost certainly part of a team led by someone else. Putting this list together made me aware of some areas where I need to put in some work, so I can improve my team skills. How about you, what traits do you need to invest development time to become the best team player you can?