The Pros and Cons of Being a Team Player

Throughout your school years, there was a huge emphasis on your personal accountability and ability to learn and complete projects on your own. Except for the dreaded group project, which no one seems to have escaped unscathed.

So what was it that those group projects taught us? Whether you’re gunning for a coveted promotion or simply trying to survive the chaotic drama of your workspace, being a team player could make or break your chances at success. Check out these three ways that being a team player will earn you points with the right people and three ways you could end up losing out.

Pro 1 - You Care About the Company

When you’re a consistent team player, everyone will start to notice how committed you are to the company and its vision rather than your own agenda. Your supervisors will be more likely to delegate important tasks to you, your peers will be more likely to enjoy working with you, and the employees you manage will be more likely to trust you.

Con 1 - You’re Someone Else’s Step Up

While you’re busy proving your integrity, there are other professionals who are only there to fight their way to the top. You may be getting quality work done, but career climbers may be sneaking around greasing palms and, unfortunately, sometimes networking will do more for your career than actual work.

Pro 2 - You Allow Everyone to Contribute

As a team player, you’re willing to let everyone think up new ideas and solutions. You also care that the project is a collaborative effort showcasing the talents of everyone on your team whether they come from a temp agency, placement services, or a contract position. And because of how you engage with the ongoing work, you foster creativity and ingenuity that get the whole office excited.

Con 2 - You Work More

Sometimes pulling a project together as a team takes significantly longer than it would on your own, and that means you have less time to work on your other projects during regular office hours. When you’re either working overtime or feeling stressed because of the mounting workload, you may start to wonder why you’re working so hard to neglect your home and personal life.

Pro 3 - You Can Juggle Extra Tasks

If you can still handle your own duties while helping out Sue across the office with an unexpected disaster, your boss will take notice. If you can keep up with those big-picture tasks along with your own, they’ll recognize that you might make a great manager or supervisor.

Con 3 - You Have to Pick Up the Slack

The one thing everyone hates about group projects is how ambiguous the accountability is. Even your favorite coworkers may be working too slowly, holding back the team’s progress, not to mention the coworkers who don’t seem bothered to contribute. But with important deadlines ahead, you can’t wait for them to catch up, so the bulk of the work may fall on you.