Have you tried browsing the classified ads lately? Or browse Jobstreet or Jobs DB for one? Did you notice the most common requirement that companies are looking for from applicants? If not, then let me tell you. Majority of the employers nowadays are looking for people who are skilled, experienced and are dynamic team players. Why? Because they believe in the importance that teamwork plays in achieving the organization’s goals and objectives.

Each member of the organization is highly important to the others. One cannot stand alone. Even the person sitting in the highest position, say, the President of the company is dependent on his subordinates. He depends on them to provide him accurate and timely reports which he will use in decision making. This dependency all rolls down to the bottom line of the organizational chart. I remember the Group President of our company saying, “Together, we can achieve more than we can do individually.”

I like the words of an old time NBA player when he spoke of their team’s victory, “The measure of how you played the game is by how you made your teammates play.”   

Clearly, he was saying that being a team player means leading and influencing your teammates, and making them realize that they can contribute to the organization’s journey towards the common goal by maximizing their potentials.

Here are some tips on how to become a better leader of your team:

1.       Give value to your teammates. Make them see their worth to the team. The more you emphasize their value, the more they will strive to do better.

2.       Know and relate to what your teammates value. Personal relationships are built on trust, care and respect. A harmonious environment is built on good personal relationships.

3.       Add value to your teammates. Provide them an opportunity for growth and development. Giving them the opportunity to be better in their craft is a win-win situation. It benefits them as an individual and it also contributes to the team. A rising tide lifts all boats.

4.       Make yourself more valuable. Keep on improving yourself. You cannot give what you do not have. For you to influence your teammates, you must be an example. Self improvement goes before team improvement. The only way one can lead is to keep growing.

5.       Take the initiative. Be proactive. Start the action. Start the belief. He who wants to lead must serve first. Don’t force them to follow, invite them in a journey. Make them believe in themselves.

 Keep in mind that you are not the team. The team is all of its members. Believe them, serve them and add value to them as you do the same to yourself.