| day’s changing business climate you will often | | | | member of the group is not “pulling their |
| hear the question in interviews “Are you a | | | | weight” the other members of the team may |
| team player?” Many are perplexed in | | | | see to see that either the employee shapes up or |
| answering this question. No matter what your feelings | | | | even leaves. |
| the best answer to the question is a simple | | | | Next in line with the concept of working in a team is |
| “Yes” or “Of course!” | | | | the enhanced communication. This is necessary in |
| Why is there such an emphasis on this concept of | | | | business organizations to ensure that information and |
| team players in the business world when in America | | | | tasks are passed down the line to their end result and |
| much of what we consider in successful people or | | | | feedback of success of efforts be relayed back up |
| people who in their lives had great and lasting personal | | | | “to the top floor” or even “head |
| effect was due to their own initiative and personal | | | | office” If one worker is away – say sick |
| integrity even going against the grain and in effect | | | | or the position opens up communication becomes key |
| singing “I did it my way.” | | | | in filling that slot and ensuring that the worker in that |
| The answer can be found to some degree in the | | | | position both knows and is able to competently fill the |
| concepts of “Mc Jobs” or assembly line | | | | slot.. Not only that but with the efficient communication |
| concepts of jobs and job descriptions. If a person buys | | | | of the team efforts it is often the case that there is |
| a restaurant franchise he or she is not buying a | | | | more efficient allocation and application of the |
| restaurant as much as they are buying a proven | | | | resources of any organization or business, talents and |
| “system”. It’s the system that | | | | strengths. Team members in most cases, feel that |
| matters not the person making the sandwich or | | | | they are part of a team effort “of something |
| hamburger. | | | | bigger than just themselves” and generally |
| The employee is seen to have a limited function. Their | | | | apply themselves to the best of their abilities, usually |
| role is one small cog in the wheel. | | | | very willingly. On top of that it is often the case that |
| The employee that is there today may well be gone | | | | when one team member may lack certain skills or |
| tomorrow being replaced by a new employee who | | | | knowledge components then the redundancy of the |
| needs limited extensive training as they too are seen | | | | team spirit kicks in, and another member of the team |
| to do a small repetitive function in the system. You | | | | will be there to assist or even fills in the gap. |
| may never get a great hamburger or sandwich as | | | | It’s no accident that businesses are now |
| such an establishment but you will get a standardized | | | | organized in team structures. Just as the game of |
| basic product that is acceptable and predictable. | | | | American football is played by well organized and |
| In such business organizations it’s the system | | | | practiced teams – so are most business |
| – or the team that matters most of all. | | | | organizations. It makes excellent business sense both |
| It’s true that being in a team and having a team | | | | in terms of the business systems of the day and of |
| spirit builds a spirit of collaboration. There is also the | | | | company and business productivity and profit. |
| concept that the peer pressure of the team (or of the | | | | This why when asked in a job employment interview |
| other members wanting to keep their jobs) may | | | | “Are you a team player?” always |
| increase and enhance productivity and even profit. If a | | | | answer in the affirmative. |