I love to people-watch. Sometimes I worry that this makes me a little weird, but I’ve come to terms with that. If I’m in a crowd, I’m often observing the people and how they are interacting with each other. I think a lot can be learned through observing.
One interaction I observed recently was of a construction crew. I was at a distance looking through a window where I could see workers creating a new building entrance. The team worked hard to accomplish their goal on a tight deadline. People who enter and exit that building daily were looking forward to completion. In its current state of construction, the building was difficult to enter or exit there.
Here Is an exchange I witnessed between the workers. I think this truly demonstrates what it means to be a team player. Even just their body language spoke volumes.
Someone needed to make a correction.
Four workers knelt to work on a concrete foundation. There was freshly poured concrete, re-bar, and heavy-duty tools. A fifth worker walked over to talk to them, and the four stood to listen. From what I could see, The fifth worker looked unhappy; he spoke with his hands and large arm movements. Next, he knelt down to work, talking all the while and looking back up at the others. The four workers stepped in closer to watch. Eventually, all five quickly went back to work, showing no sign of complaint or hesitation. What does this say about the behavior of a team player?
- Team players speak up as soon as they notice a problem.
- They don’t hesitate to share feedback with others.
- Team players teach what they know.
- Additionally, team players accept feedback and change what they are doing to improve the result.
- Finally, team players get right back to work.
A team member needed help
Later, one worker walked up to another and said something. When this happened, the worker stopped what they were doing and walked with the other to a new area. They started to work together there. It was such a simple interaction. Of course, It showed a lot about how they worked as a team! What does it say about team players?
- Team players ask for help when they need it.
- They stick around to learn from and assist those who are helping them.
- Additionally, Team players will stop what they’re doing to help someone else, remembering the common goal.
- Most importantly, team players are there for each other.
It’s inspiring to see their commitment and teamwork in action. I’m proud that I work on a team that behaves like these workers.
So, What can you do each day to show you are a strong team player? Are you doing it?
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