How to be a great team player
There are many blogs, articles and even courses focused on what it takes to be a great leader, with huge importance placed on successful leadership, resulting in successful teams and consequently, business prosperity. Without dismissing this approach, Kyocera’s way is more about the team. As it says in our philosophy, “Kyocera developed into what it is today because the company is based on the bond of human minds.”
At the heart of our philosophy is “Management by All”, which means a great team is only as strong as the sum of its parts and each member has a crucial role to play in a company’s success. To paraphrase Kyocera’s founder, the late Kazuo Inamori: There is a limit to how much hard work the leadership team can put in. You must turn your employees into partners, and your partners are part of the family, sharing the same ideas and working together to develop the company.
Many of the attributes that make a great leader are the same as those that make a great team player. These include:
1. Admit mistakes, ask questions and express new ideas
Empowered team players feel free to explore ideas, experiment and adapt their working style for the benefit of the business. Along with this freedom, comes the responsibility to support peers and be part of an environment where all people feel free to express their ideas.
2. Are productive and results-oriented
Great team players are emotionally intelligent and self-motivated. They understand that by doing their job well they benefit not only themselves, but their peers and the overall business.
3. Are good communicators
Team players are good listeners and don’t shy away from difficult conversations. They express their needs clearly and ask for help when necessary.
4. Have a clear understanding of the company’s vision and the role they play in achieving it
Team players understand and work towards achieving the company’s mission, strategy and goals.
5. Possess key technical skills
They understand their job well and have the skills to do it properly. Great team players are lifelong learners and constantly upgrade their skills to match their evolving job requirement.
6. Are good collaborators
By understanding the part their job plays in the greater vision of the company, team players are good collaborators ensuring that they work with their peers to achieve the intended goal. So, by acquiring the attributes that make a great team player, you will not only help to boost your productivity and success, you will also enhance the cohesion and synergy within your team, paving the way for shared victories and collective growth.
In the spirit of maintaining a resilient organisation that thrives on the diverse strengths of its members, Henry Ford’s words come to mind: "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." At Kyocera, we embody this mantra, understanding that our collective efforts drive us towards our common goals.
Together we are stronger.
Jimmy de Waal - Sales and Marketing Director - KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa
