Team vs. Self

Being a good team player does not need to include completely giving up your focus on yourself and your individual goals or achievements. You can have a balance. Work for the team always but keep you best interests in mind as well. I believe this is true in the work place as well as sports.

Catch phrases about teamwork are everywhere in the work place from inspirational posters to emails to executive speeches. it’s all fine and good until someone from the “team” gets let go to downsize or someone on the “team” get’s passed up for a promotion for the person who is less of a team player and strongly focuses on their own advancement. In sports, the team player often gets traded for the “star’ with individual stats and focus.

I will simply say, have balance. Keep the team in front of you and your daily work but keep YOU everywhere else.