To improve a work team you need to improve the individuals on the team. Since you are in control only of yourself, developing a better team would begin with you. Improving yourself will add value to your team.
This week in my blog posts I will cover four areas, which effect team work.
Adaptability
Communication
Enlarging
Selflessness
ADAPTABILITY
“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” ~ Michael McGriff
This is one of my favorite quotes. Teamwork and personal rigidity are not compatible when defining a work team. All team members must remain flexible.
Team players who exhibit adaptability have certain characteristics:
They are teachable
They are creative
Most importantly, they are service minded.
People who are teachable place high priority on breaking new ground. They want to learn and have experiences that will take them to the next level of success collectively with their teammates. They look at change as an opportunity to learn and grow. They say “Let’s try it even if it doesn’t work out we will learn something.” They do not react with dismay, they accept the challenge with a positive outlook. They want to help those they serve in a better capacity.
Unteachable people have a hard time with change, as a result they never adapt well when changes are made and can cause the team to struggle as a whole with its goals. At times, you can actually see pain on this type of person’s face when someone says, “Let’s try it this new way or I have a great idea to try.” Learning new and different ways to do things is a dread to them.
People who focus inward (self) are less likely to make changes for the team than people who focus on serving others. If your goal is to serve the team and your customers, adapting to, and accomplishing a goal is not difficult.
Do not fall into the rut stating “why something cannot be done.” Instead be the first on the team to say “how can it be done?”
When you remain flexible you will be surprised by how you will feel and how creative you can become to find solutions to problems and how to create better ways for your team to do things and be more successful.
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