Team Players

A web-based version of the "Teaming Handbook" information on Team Players

About

Every team member has a natural team-player style. All of these styles are important ingredients of successful teams.

  • Contributor: This member gets the team to focus on the immediate task.
  • Collaborator: This team player emphasizes the overall purpose of the team.
  • Communicator: This member encourages positive interpersonal relations and group processes.
  • Challenger: This style asks the tough questions and pushes the team to take reasonable risks.

It is important for a team to understand the team player styles of its members. This helps to highlight both strengths and weaknesses. And if a player style is missing, then the team can talk about how to fill this gap.

Which team player style are you?

  • Are you a Contributor?
  • Enjoys providing good technical information and data.
  • Pushes for high performance standards.
  • Helps the team use its time and resources.
  • Freely shares all relevant information with the team.
  • Are you a Collaborator?
  • Helps the team establish goals and clarify tasks.
  • Sees the "Big Picture."
  • Reminds the team to stay on track and focused on the target.
  • Pitches in to help out other team members when needed.
  • Flexible and open to new ideas.
  • Are you a Communicator?
  • Emphasizes team process.
  • Believes in an interpersonal "glue."
  • Listens well and periodically summarizes discussion.
  • Encourages everyone to participate.
  • Helps team members relax and have fun.
  • Are you a Challenger?
  • Questions goals and methods.
  • Willing to disagree with the leader.
  • Encourages the team to take well-conceived risks.
  • Honest about progress and problems.
  • Asks “why?” and ‘how?” and other relevant questions.

You probably discovered you have a primary and a secondary team player style. These are the styles you usually use when on a team.

You may have scored closely on more than one player style. You might have even scored closely on all four styles. That is okay! This just means that you are versatile and will tend to draw on the personality traits as needed.


The GOAL is to have a good mix of team player styles on the team.