Past Articles
Networking
Check for speaking events and workshops covering such topics as Networking, Avoiding the Job From Hell, and Success during the First 90 Days of a New Job.
Books - coming soon!
We offer a few suggestions of books here. Browse and enjoy!
What Kind of Team Member are You? by Linda Trignano
Stop for a minute and think about the number of teams you are a part of. The primary team you are on is the department in which you work at the company that hired you. Beyond this, you are also a part of many other teams. For example, you may be chosen to take part in an ongoing team project or asked to join an ad hoc committee.
If you look deeper, you can see that you do not play the same role on each team. One team might need you for your technical skills, another might select you because you are part of Mr. Jones’s organization and yet another might select you because of your prior experience in a different industry. And oh yeah, the other reason we land on a particular team – they need someone and you just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lucky you, you are now part of another team!
In my team building training I cover the 5 roles of team members:
- Creator (generates ideas)
- Advancer (promotes ideas)
- Refiner (challenges ideas)
- Executor (implements ideas)
- Flexor (steps in to fill the gaps)
Whether you have thought about being a team member in this way or not, you do indeed fill one of these roles on each team in which you participate.
The question is “how do others view you” when you are in your team role? Are you seen as someone who actively participates? Someone who works to complete tasks needed to further the team toward the goal? Someone who gives the impression that you would rather be anywhere else but at the meeting? The main point here is to be cognizant of how others may be viewing you even though they may not verbalize their thoughts. Being active and involved in whatever team you are a part of is key to your success.
Others see and know your attitude by the behaviors and style that you demonstrate during the meetings, the follow up activity and quality of work that you produce. It is important to your career to keep in mind how others are seeing you, the judgments and assumptions they make about you and your work habits. Their main view into your style is through your level of participation.
In the 5 team roles listed above, all are necessary for a team to operate at peak proficiency. Some are better at generating ideas (Creator) some are better at implementing ideas (Executor). Can you imagine a team full of Creators? You might end up with a list full of great ideas and no one to take the steps to bring them to life. Or how about a list full of great ideas and no one stepping up to challenge where the roadblocks might be? Disaster!
Whether you are the team member who naturally gravitates toward asking questions or the team member who is perfectly happy taking the team’s direction and implementing, you are an important part of the team.
Why not make a conscious effort to help steer the ship in the right direction? Your next promotion or raise may depend on how skillfully you manage your team skills.
About Trignano Consulting - With over 24 years of experience in a corporate environment, we offer our clients support in training and mentoring teams in the public/private sectors, ensuring best HR practices are being followed and providing individuals with the coaching tools to successfully handle career transitions. Trignano Consulting' founder Linda Trignano is focused on helping companies more effectively handle their people related functions. We help businesses increase employee value by leveraging our expertise in human resources and communications to ensure that clients succeed in their business operations. We bring a unique approach to our clients. By integrating problem identification, action plan development and employee acceptance into every engagement, we produce results that drive company profits and value. We can be reached at www.trignanoconsulting.com 973-722-9961
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication is appreciated. Every article published MUST include the author bio, including the link to the author's Web site.
To set up an exploratory session to see which of our training workshops or assessments fit your company's needs call us at 973-722-9961 or email at info@ trignanoconsulting.com
Let Us Help You Master Interview Skills
Learn to communicate with impact. Our specialty is helping you "Ace the Interview"! The "interview" is not just a job interview. An interview could be an important presentation to your manager, or a sales call to your most important customer. Each situation brings it own challenges. Being prepared AND polished will move you from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Working with us will get you noticed!