How to Comfortably Transition from School Teams to Work Teams

Working on a team is an important skill in a modern work setting. Being on a professional work team is very similar to academic and sports teams. There are several transferable skills found in school teams that can help you be a good team...

Part 1 of 3:

Identify Established Skills

How to Comfortably Transition from School Teams to Work Teams Picture 1

Actively listen to all team members. Teamwork is heavily reliant upon face to face conversation. Without actively listening during meetings you could miss important information. Teams require people who can absorb, understand, and consider ideas and viewpoints from other people.
1. Recognise the way you have actively listened to teammates during school projects to ensure everyone contributes their own ideas.
2. Apply this to the workplace when speaking with teammates or engaging in meetings.
3. Listen carefully to team members and take notes when possible.
Establish a personal plan of organisation. Forming a concrete plan of your responsibilities within a team is necessary. Without a plan you could fail to meet deadlines or forget about a task, which could cause the entire team to fail.
1. Remember the guidelines you set for yourself during school group projects to keep you on task.
2. Use the same organisational strategy at work to keep track of deadlines and expectations
3. Keep track of the responsibilities given to you by your boss to ensure you are completing them.
Be comfortable speaking up when you have an idea. When you are new to a job it can be scary to speak your mind. It is important to communicate any ideas or concerns you have to show you are actively participating and to add to the group conversation.
1. Use the tools you've gained from having to present to your peers and think of speaking at work the same way.
2. Take any opportunity you have to speak your mind and share your input to ensure your voice is heard and appreciated in a work meeting
Utilize your interpersonal skills to communicate effectively. To make sure you are respected by your employers and peers it is necessary to be emotionally intelligent. This requires awareness of your own behaviors as well as the feelings and actions of those you work with.
1. Think back to times you've worked in groups and the effects you had on your peers and the way their actions affected you.
2. Constantly reflect on what you could improve, but don't forget to remember the things you are doing well.
3. Observe your co-workers behaviours to adapt to the team dynamic that may already exist.
Understand written communication guidelines for the genre you are in. Don't blindly write for your team without understanding the proper format to follow or correct language to use. It is necessary to recognise the style choices made by writers within your own genre so you can follow accordingly.
1. When you wrote for different subjects in school you didn't write the same way. The way a lab report is crafted varies greatly from an English paper.
2. Study examples of the genre you are writing within and adapt your writing style to fit it.
3. Write to the proper audience and use the correct language.
Encourage success as a group versus personal success goals. Don't let your personal goals over power the goals the team has set out. Teamwork can only be successful when the goals of the group are valued higher than the individual. There is no 'I' in team.
1. Consider how you were graded on group work in school. You were graded as a team, not individually. Apply this idea to professional teams.
2. Don't engage in teamwork for solo recognition.
3. Think of the big picture of the work you are doing and how it relates to the company goals as well.

Part 2 of 3:

Adapt to the workplace environment

How to Comfortably Transition from School Teams to Work Teams Picture 2

Recognize hierarchy and your place within the team dynamic. Unlike in school group work, there is a hierarchy in the workplace within teams. Respecting the people of authority is necessary in order for them to respect you.
1. Observe who is the team leader and respect their authority.
2. Be conscious of your position within the team and recognise when you are allowed to contribute.
Understand your audience and the tone in which you address them. The tone that you take is going to vary with different audiences and that is why it is always important to be aware of who your audience is. Talking with your boss is different than conducting a presentation in a meeting or talking with your co-workers. Every situation requires careful thought into how you are going to conduct yourself to cater to your audience.
1. As a general rule, a professional tone should be taken in any work related setting
2. Be cautious when talking about anything that is not work related to co-workers
3. Speak confidently and clearly
Use and understand the correct vernacular. A fundamental understanding of the jargon used in the office and in your field of work is necessary.
1. Always try to learn and look up any language that you are not used to
2. Be familiar with current events related to the industry you work in
3. Adapt your writing to the style that is required for your genre
Always have a positive attitude and show willingness to take initiative. An employee with enthusiasm and excitement is highly valued within a team.
1. Demonstrate your willingness to take on more tasks.
2. Enter every team meeting wanting to learn more.
3. Encourage other team members by complimenting them on their successes.
Resolve any team conflicts to ensure you are all working at your best. If there are unresolved conflicts within a team, the entire team dynamic could be ruined. In the workplace it is necessary to confront these conflicts head on.
1. Discuss any interpersonal problems as soon as possible to avoid a serious issue.
2. Try to see both sides of every conflict.
3. Be open minded and willing to adjust your behaviour.

Part 3 of 3:

Suggestions for Success

How to Comfortably Transition from School Teams to Work Teams Picture 3

Be flexible when things don't go your way. Your original plan might not be the final product of your team, and you need to be able to adapt with these changes.
1. Don't take it personally if your ideas aren't used
2. Be able to adapt to changes if your ideas are critiqued, you should be able to change directions without issue
3. The best ideas evolve from other ideas, and these ideas will take time
Be open to constructive criticism. It is easy to see criticism as offensive instead of helpful.Don't be afraid to offer some constructive criticism in order to better your teammates
1. People are trying to help you, and criticism can bring a new perspective to the team
2. Criticism is necessary to evolve and grow as team members
3. Don't be afraid to offer some constructive criticism to better your teammates
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Many people might feel as though they are being a burden by asking questions.
1. No question is a stupid question
2. Asking questions can further your understanding, making the team more comprehensive
3. A manager or fellow coworkers will see this as taking initiative and respect your willingness to learn
4. Someone else on the team could learn from your question as well
Build social relationships with your teammates outside of the work environment. Your team will not be successful if you don't care about the team or the project.
1. Plan team bonding activities to get to know your group members so you can understand each other's work styles
2. Establish trust between team members in order to create a safe work environment
3. Meeting outside of work creates a sense of unity so that all team members feel equally valued