Use Your Strengths
Do you know what you do best?
Perhaps you’re an incredible sniper. Or, you might excel at close quarters, defending the stronghold, or driving the warthog. Whatever your strengths, you have something valuable to offer. Find a role within your team that allows you to do what you do well. This will help you make a meaningful contribution – and increase your chances of doing a great job. Plus, it’s usually much easier, and more satisfying, to do tasks when you’re naturally good at them. Teams usually come together most when facing tough teams. When a group works well together, people are more focused and determined, as each player taps into one another’s strengths.
Understand the Team’s Objectives
On the occasions that teams don’t function well, it’s often because there’s a lack of communication and understanding about what the team’s objectives are. If you want to be a good team player, make sure you understand the team’s goals. Some key questions to ask yourself are:
What roles and responsibilities do each of us have?
Where are my teammates going and why?
Be clear about what you’re doing, what you have, and where you are going. This will help you complete your objectives while letting your team know also.
Be Reliable
It’s frustrating when someone says one thing and does another, and it can really slow a group’s progress. But you may really surprise and impress people by following through on what you say you’ll do. If you commit to doing something for the team, make sure you do it right. If you say you’ll grab the OS, but really mean you’re going to watch it, be clear about it. Being reliable also applies to the work you do for the group. If you have high standards for yourself, people will depend on you to do well whether it’s slaying or scoring the objective. If your output is excellent one game, but only average the next, the team may regard you as being unreliable.
Be a Good Communicator
Be involved and active within the group. If you play silently you could damage the team’s chances of winning, especially in higher levels of play. When you communicate with your team members – whether showing support, or disagreeing on their thinking – it’s important to stay positive and respectful. Even if you disagree with someone, don’t become emotional. Being objective and fair will make a good impression; getting upset and angry comes off as whiney or lacking self-control.
Stay Flexible
If you’ve ever worked with a team, you probably know that things can change quickly. People may join or leave the fireteam, you may be facing a team better than you, or your teammate may have accidentally dropped… The best team players know how to be flexible. They don’t fight change – instead, they adapt. Your willingness to remain calm and positive in a constantly changing match is an important skill and your team will take notice.
Help your team by using your strengths, clearly understanding your role, and staying flexible and reliable until the game ends. Be positive, and help others as much as you can. By being cooperative and willing to work hard, even if you do poorly, you’ll make a good impression on your team.