The Qualities of a Good Team Member: What Makes Teams Effective?

Maria Petit

For the record, this is not another blog post about how multitasking and working under pressure are the qualities of a good team member: leave those to the 80s! People tend to believe employees must work really hard to be considered good, but when it comes to effective teams, there are other important teamwork skills that matter, all while maintaining good levels of employee satisfaction. 

From strong communication skills to problem-solving skills, there is a wide array of qualities members should possess to build a successful team. Let’s not forget that in essence, a good team player is not only about hard skills, but also someone who can work well with other team members and contribute to the success of the team. They have the necessary skills and qualities that allow them to be productive and efficient. 

In this blog post, we will discuss the qualities of a good team player and how you can build an excellent team!

Even though we constantly talk about teams and teamwork, there is quite a complexity behind the functioning of a team so much that for years, research has been focused on finding the best characteristics of effective staff.  

Therefore, let’s review what exactly a team is !

Behind The Concept of Team

For Katzenbach and Smith (1993) in their book “The Discipline of Teams” a team means “… a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to the same goal, performance objectives, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable”

Teams are viewed as a three-stage system where they use resources (input) to maintain internal processes (throughput) to ultimately produce specific products (output). 

Thus, we can conclude that what we put in (input) along with the processes (throughput) of maintaining a great team defines the teamwork skills for moving the team forward.

So, if we want to keep the system active and running smoothly, team leaders have to know and understand which teamwork skills your company needs (input) to build a great team (throughput) that can work effectively (output).

This raises the question: During job interviews while hiring new staff, how can you recognize the suitable team members among the candidates? Or, most important, in the job description, are you clear about the teamwork skills important for you and your company? 

If you answered no, don’t panic! As we are giving you a bulletproof list of skills to look for and build in your employees!

Team Member Characteristics: Qualities of a Good Team Member For Success

So, you want to build a strong team. But, for some reason, you don’t know which qualities are the best. Let’s review the top qualities of the best team players in the 21st-century workplace

Choosing the Right Team Members

As Katzenbach and Smith say:

“Groups don’t become teams because that is what someone calls them.”

If you are a manager this step is very important! You need to select the correct people for your team! You will need to get the people with the required teamwork skills to help the team grow and develop.

It’s not about finding people who are good at their job, but also those who enjoy working in a team environment and have the necessary teamwork skills that will make them excellent team employees.

When it comes to building an effective team, the process starts with choosing the correct staff. This might seem like an easy task, but in reality, it is quite difficult to find individuals who have all of the necessary teamwork skills and qualities.

We encourage you to follow the guidelines below!

Aware of Their Roles 

A team will only be effective if each member knows their role and responsibilities. If there are unclear or undefined roles, it will lead to confusion and frustration within the team. 

A great team member knows what is expected of them and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed

Therefore, employees must have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities from the beginning. Each player must also understand how their contribution affects the whole picture.

Self-Awareness

“Self-awareness means recognizing the strengths of oneself and focusing on them”. 

Outstanding team players are self-aware. This means they are aware of their strengths and weaknesses and are always looking for ways to improve. They also understand how their behavior affects others on the team and are conscious of the impact they have on the team dynamic.

As you can see in the graph below, research shows a direct correlation between self-awareness and team performance. Teams with a high level of consciousness make better judgments, interact better with one another, and successfully manage tensions and conflicts.

Source: “We’re Not Very Self-Aware, Especially at Work”

Being consciously aware is a key quality for good team employees because it allows them to be introspective and understand how they can best contribute to the team. It also allows them to be more adaptable and flexible in their role, which is essential in today’s workplace. 

Positive Attitude

A positive attitude is one of the great teamwork skills. This means your employee is upbeat and optimistic, even in the face of setbacks. 

They remain calm under pressure and can see the silver lining in every situation. A positive attitude is contagious, so good team members help create a positive environment for the whole team.

Positive attitude is important for good team members because they help to build a positive team dynamic. A positive employee is also more likely to be creative and come up with new ideas, which can be beneficial for the entire team. 

Problem-Solving Skills

It’s not like we are expecting your workplace to be a battleground, but indeed, problems can arise and sometimes, unexpectedly. 

Taking charge

When you have an employee with a great sense of problem resolution, they will be able to identify issues, generate ideas, and come up with creative solutions.  

Communication Skills

An effective communicator is someone who can convey their ideas clearly and concisely. They are also good listeners and make an effort to understand others’ points of view.

Communication is key for good team members because it helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same objective. It also allows team members to build relationships and trust with one another, which is essential for a successful team. 

Pitching Skills

What’s an employee that cannot communicate their projects in a fair, reasonable manner? This skill goes hand in hand with the previous skill, therefore knowing how to pitch is one of the top good teamwork skills!

An employee who can pitch – can present their ideas clearly and concisely. They are also confident in their ability to sell their ideas to others. Pitching skills are important for good team members, especially those in the sales department because they help the team progress and achieve its goals.

Influencing Skills

This skill is not about your employee going viral on Instagram (Or, maybe yes, if this is part of the marketing strategy?) But, besides this, a good employee has strong skills to influence others to see their point of view and support their ideas. They are also able to build relationships with other teammates and stakeholders. This skill is important for good team members because they help the team to function effectively.

Planning Skills

With this skill, employees organize and can plan thеіr work schedule in a way that is efficient and effective. They can set goals and meet deadlines. 

A team with employees who can help everyone to achieve their objectives, and successfully manage a group project to deliver outcomes within the required time – is a “dream team”.

Honesty and Integrity

Last but not least, honesty and integrity are two essential teamwork skills, as well considered important interpersonal skills. This means being truthful and transparent in all interactions. It also means having the courage to stand up for what is right, even when it’s difficult. Honesty is important for good team members because it helps to build a trusting and respectful environment within the team 

Honesty and integrity are important for good team members because they create a foundation of trust. Without trust, it’s difficult for teams to function effectively. 

When looking for good team members, managers should keep these qualities in mind. By hiring employees who possess these teamwork skills, you can build a strong and effective team that will help your business succeed.

Manager’s Role in Building The Qualities of a Good Team Member

As a manager, you play a vital role in building the qualities of a good team member. As a leader, you should demonstrate your own skills to lead your team to success. 

In your role, you can provide continuous constructive feedback, set clear expectations, and offer opportunities for growth and development.

In addition, you should also create an environment that values collaboration working, active listening, and good communication. By doing this, you will help your staff to develop the necessary skills and qualities to be successful. 

Final Thoughts

Building an effective team is essential for any business. By hiring employees with the right qualities of a good team member, you can create a crew designed to thrive. 

When looking for good team members, it’s important to consider which qualities make a good member of a team. Always have communication, pitching, influencing, planning, and honesty as very important teamwork skills. Keep thriving!

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