The Fifth element necessary to more than survive as a Most Valuable Team Player (MVTP) of your team.
This article presents the fifth element necessary to be a Most Valuable Team Player (MVTP) of your team in today’s challenging environment. It shares ways for thriving amidst adversity.
Thriving as a MVTP!
Think about it, I suspect you have already been a successful MVTP.
Remember a time when you did a positive act that moved a team from dysfunction to functional.
(Your family counts as a team.) Recall what was going wrong and what you did to fix it. That qualifies you for a MVTP nomination! Here are additional recommendations and questions from successful MVTPs that will allow you to continue to thrive in your continuing role.
Keep “upskilling” teambuilding skills
…even when you are too busy. MVTPs are always working on a professional development goal.
- What professional skill do you want to work on?
- How can you practice it while you work on what is needed?
- What actions can we take to solve this situation?
Make sure your teammates understand your intention
Connect the dots between your values, mission, vision, and the activity that you and your teammates are currently involved in. Make clear why it is valuable. Don’t assume they know that or what you need them to do.
Be patient with your teammates
- What can you do to be the best version of yourself when times are tough?
Your teammates are likely to follow your kindness.
Build your resilience
Tennis players find a way to rest and breathe deeply between serves. They recenter and prepare for the next challenge.
- What can you do to breath and recharge as you move through your team challenge?
Find effective ways to manage your stress
Stress management is an entire field of study. You can access articles and videos, and multiple experts with websites. The trick is to find what works best for you in your different environments and your stress triggers. My favorite Stress Buster is Belly Breathing. This is where you stop breathing from your chest or rib cage and start breathing from your belly or diaphragm. You can become conscious of your belly expanding as you breathe in and contracting as you breathe out. This causes you to physically get out of your head quickly and into your body. You can give yourself a short vacation while sitting at a desk, standing, or walking.
- What is your favorite way to manage your stress?
It takes a relationship to do business. The more important the business, the stronger the relationship needs to be. Being a MVTP requires that you focus on the relationship with the people that are doing the job. Addressing their humanity and wisdom supports team success. Joan did that for me with a quick, simple act of kindness.
Be a role model for successful team behavior. Demonstrate the agreements you and your team have made. Help others do the same. This is how you become a MVTP, and the best version of yourself!
QUESTIONS
This article has asked you many questions. Choose one or two to answer and work, as you focus on thriving as a Most Valuable Team Player in all of your teaming opportunities.
Chuck Scharenberg is the Founder of More Profit More Freedom, a consultancy that supports the execution of large-scale growth for small businesses. His practice has successfully grown businesses with processes that identify potential roadblocks and mitigation schemes to accelerate realistic execution.
Challenging Leaders to solve the Right problems by asking the Right questions!