Talented Teamwork

Journal Entries

About this document

Virtual journal interface with user guide and sections on equity, bias, and strategies to address bias. Instructional text on how to navigate.

At key moments in the Bodyswaps experience, useful notes are added to the learner’s virtual journal as a memory prompt that they can refer back to, as and when required. 

In VR, learners access their journal by looking at their avatar’s left hand. On other devices, it can be accessed via a ‘burger menu’ in the top left corner of the screen. 

This document collates the journal entries in relation to the individual activities for this course.

Introduction and self-reflection

Introduction

Objective

Effective teamwork is essential for a happy, productive, enjoyable work life.

Goals

  • Explore team busting or boosting behaviours
  • Recognise what kind of team player you are
  • Collaborating with others
  • Demonstrate how to be an effective team player

What type of team player are you?

Glenn Parker’s team player styles

Four team player styles

There are four team player styles - communicator, collaborator, challenger, contributor

  • No one style is better at contributing to a team’s success
  • Each style brings unique strengths and weaknesses
  • Most people are a blend and modify their behaviour to suit the situation
  • The strongest teams have the broadest range of team player styles

Communicator: process-oriented

  • Positive
  • Supportive
  • Encouraging
  • Tactful

Contributor: task-oriented

  • Responsible
  • Organised
  • Efficient
  • Detail-oriented

Collaborator: goal-oriented 

  • Forward-thinking
  • Cooperative
  • Flexible
  • Imaginative

Challenger: question-oriented

  • Forthright
  • Honest
  • Assertive
  • Principled

Your reflections

We asked you to think about a time when you were involved in some kind of team task and describe how your actions represented one of the four types of team player. 

There will be a transcript of the learner’s response available on the next page of the journal.

Team busting or team boosting?

Building team spirit

Team boosting behaviours

When working as a team, do:

  • Act positively towards your teammates - everyone benefits from an upbeat attitude
  • Adopt a solutions-mindset - every obstacle can be overcome
  • Always drive towards common goals - it strengthens collaboration
  • Ask your teammates for their opinions - it will deepen your connection

Team busting behaviours

When working as a team, don’t:

  • Try to claim personal credit for team successes 
  • Talk without listening - be present and listen to others
  • Waste time diverting from the team’s common goals
  • Be negative about your teammates contributions, without offering alternatives or solutions

Collaborating with others

Collaborating with others

Tips for effective collaboration

  • Inviting your teammates opinions helps to build rapport and foster a positive idea-sharing culture
  • Asking questions shows others you want to hear from them - and increases your understanding of their views  
  • Listen respectfully and value everyone’s opinion - it can be challenging for some people to share their ideas with others
  • Get the creativity flowing by acknowledging and accepting other people’s ideas - then building on them!

Being an effective team player…

Being an effective team player

  • Make a conscious decision to always be positive and enthusiastic about your teammates’ contributions
  • Always respect other people’s views - even if you disagree. Teams benefit from a range of differing views
  • Ensure you’re tapping into your emotional intelligence when listening and responding to others