What Unique Role Do You Play?

Every member of a team is essential—or should be. Each part doing it’s work so that the team is healthy, flourishing, and productive—moving from “norming” to “performing” (Tuckman).

What unique role do you play on your team? Perhaps you are the highly-observant person who notices everything, who sees people?  Or someone who listens intently, who hears? Maybe you quickly synthesize information and summarize it for the team, or you mediate disparate perspectives—bringing balance to discussions?

Are you the one who can build or craft physical things? The empathizer? A do-er—the one who feels compelled to act? Perhaps you are the heart of the team—the compassion or the pulsing energy, or the one who aids the team with discernment—pointing out hidden truths or concealed lies. You might be the leader or one who actively leads up, assisting the team leader in his/her own growth.

What unique abilities or talents (developed or developing) do you have? In the moments where your contribution feels less important than that of others, or you know you are hiding or minimizing these assets, ask yourself…

·         Is it your own reticence or lack of confidence? What might you do to change that poor self-perspective?

·         Is it perhaps jealousy? Comparisons with others helps no one.

·         Is it a lack of affirmation/encouragement from the team leader or the rest of the team?

Don’t neglect what you can contribute to the team. Don’t allow others who might be more dominant or charismatic or extroverted squelch what you have to offer. There are likely many reasons you were hired to join this team. How can you lean into those strengths and bring all of yourself to the table?

And, be sure to draw out the talents and gifts of others on your team. Valuing the contributions of everyone is at least half of team success. How are you helping create space for others on the team to shine?

Shirley Giles Davis is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with a diversity of teams, leaders, and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally for over 30 years. She specializes in collaborative dialogue around a variety of subjects, with the goal of assisting every client in identifying priorities, becoming increasingly self-aware and deepening other-awareness, pursuing goals, overcoming obstacles, leaning into strengths, growing to greater health and skill, finding clarity, and, ultimately, flourishing. Contact Shirley.