Here are 8 traits that are essential to a strong, happy team.
- Trait 1: Commitment
The most important trait in strong, happy teams is commitment. Commitment to the team—putting the team first—and commitment to each individual on the team in helping him or her become everything he or she can.…With commitment comes the desire to help team members reach their potential. A winning attitude is "I’ll forgo my own immediate gratification to help the team and another team member succeed." In dragon boat terms, a good team member will never give up and will always put in 100% to row (even though muscles are aching) because he doesn’t want to let his team down.
- Trait 2: Appreciation
Do you let your team members know that they are appreciated? Do you give them positive attention? Strong teams focus on the strengths of each other—not the faults. If you think your team needs improvement in this area, try serving a compliment at each practice. "I really like the way that you…" "One of the things I like best about you is…" "You make me happy when you…" "You have real talent when it comes to…" "You make me proud when you…"
- Trait 3: Time Together
Healthy teams enjoy being together. They work together, play together, and enjoy leisure times together. They may be very busy, but they plan time together.
- Trait 4: Communication
To understand each other, a team has to be willing to invest the time necessary to share their feelings and opinions. Because you are a product of your experiences, each day you are a new person. Without talking and listening to each other, team members can soon become strangers.
- Trait 5: Sense of Humor
Happy teams have fun together; they play together; they laugh together. Having a sense of humor during tense, troubled moments defuses the tension and has an immediate calming effect.
- Trait 6: Share Responsibility
Flexibility is an important trait in strong teams, especially when it comes to sharing responsibility and roles. If team members will do whatever is necessary to meet each other's needs, even if the task does not happen to be on their list, everyone is happier.
- Trait 7: Common Interests
The more that team members have in common, the more they tend to do together. Having similar interests and developing common goals gives the team something to look forward to, to plan toward, and to experience together.
- Trait 8: Seeking Help
Healthy teams are not problem-free; they just admit to problems and get the help they need to solve them! The longer a problem drags on without a solution, the more discouraging team life becomes. Do not allow this to happen. When you are a big enough person to admit you are not perfect and when you choose to get the help you need, not only will you gain the respect of your team, but you will find that your goal of living "happily ever after" is attainable after all.
T.E.A.M = Together Everyone Accomplishes More!
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