This course module is unique. Although I have seen many courses on leadership, this is the first that I have seen on being an effective team member, so I decided to take this course. The course covered strategies, qualities, and tools for becoming a good team member. I also enjoyed continuing to take these similar, interpersonal and personal development skills, modules because I can see them connecting to one another and clarifying helpfuls strategies. First, the instructor covered a few skills for being an effective team member including being reliable, prioritizing the needs of the group, keeping commitments, demonstrating respect, engaging in trust-building behaviors.
Respect is a concept that is discussed a lot but not usually in any detail, but this course helpfully gave tangible pieces of advice for displaying and embodying respect. The instructor broke this down into three categories: time, boundaries, and ideas. Respecting others’ time means being prompt and communicating directions and clearly. To be respectful others’ boundaries is to be empathetic and conscientious of the boundaries that others have set. Lastly, respecting ideas is much more complicated. Like in the Unconscious Bias course, this instructor notes that healthy disagreement can help team members avoid group think. In addition, avoiding demeaning or belittling other’ ideas and instead politely stating your differing opinion will foster healthier interpersonal relationships.
Proacivity, trust, and communication are noted as hallmarks of a good team member. Thinking proactively, thinking strategically and look at the bigger picture, anticipating the needs of your organization, and planning ahead to lighten the workload are all example of proacitvity. Also, refocusing the team to focus on the most important deliverables and goals in the face of distractions is an enviable ability. Lastly, being collaborative even when things do not go your way and encouraging other people’s participation even when their ideas may differ from your own are crucial to fostering a good environment for teamwork.
The course also provided tools for self-reflection and self-improvements. In particular, the method outlined is shortened to SWOT, standing for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The system works to identify personal qualities that prevent personal growth and the team from performing optimally. The group-work in university has been more infrequent than when I was in high school but I think that that’s allowing me to more clearly see my own strengths and weaknesses. This system mimics other strategies outlined in the personal career plan development course that I also took via LinkedIn.
