In this letter, I want to share my thoughts on being part of a team and leading one. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be a good teammate, particularly in the workplace. That got me thinking about all the other teams I’ve been a part of. Having played a lot of sports, most of my team experiences come from athletics, but the lessons apply to any kind of team.
I like to think I’m a good teammate, but I’m still learning what it takes to be a good leader. One skill I do have is the ability to give my best effort. Many of my coaches have described me as a “hustle player” because I rarely give up on a play. However, I’ve realized that in a team setting, it takes more than one person’s effort to succeed—even if that person is giving it their all. Somehow, you have to get the whole team to push as hard as they can, and that’s where the real challenge lies.
In high school, I was one of the captains of my lacrosse team. Before every home game, we would walk up to the field, and the captains would give a short speech before we ran out. I was never very good at these speeches, but I do vividly remember one time when I felt like I truly motivated the team. It was the last home game of my senior year. I’m probably the only one who remembers this, but I told the team that this could be the last time we ever stepped on that field together—so why not give it everything we had?
I’ve wondered what made that speech different and how I managed to motivate everyone that day. Maybe it was because the game could potentially end our season, and I was able to remind the team of that reality. I’m not entirely sure, but it’s something I plan to think more about. If you have any thoughts, I’d love to hear them.
Recently, I spoke with one of my former managers about how to better persuade people when presenting my ideas at work. One key takeaway from our conversation was the importance of understanding the personalities of those you work with. Some people are very data-driven, making decisions based on hard facts and numbers. Others rely more on intuition. Great leaders understand these differences and make adjustments to ensure the team can work well together. This is another aspect of leadership I’m still learning, but I think it comes with time and experience. Thinking about these type of things makes me want to learn more about psychology. Maybe one day I will go back to school to learn more about it.
Anyways, those were some of the things I have been thinking about when it comes to being a part of a team. Let me know if you have a similar experience. Hopefully this was interesting! Feel free to reach out on social media or email ([email protected]).