Yes - working well on a team does spell success

We recently received several very thoughtful comments in response to our columns regarding how to get a good start and/or how to jump ahead of the pack. Our readers agreed with our thoughts. However, an additional tactic was suggested that would help in the pursuit of success - learning how to work better in a team environment.

I thank our readers - and let me say I agree 100%. Their suggestion is so obvious that it may qualify as my "not seeing the forest for the trees!" Nearly every success in today's world is the result of teamwork, and that is particularly true in information systems, telecom, the Internet and related fields.

There's just too much to be done and too many complex layers of technology for normal folks to make a big splash working alone.

The subtitle to Pat Riley's bestseller The Winner Within is "A Life Plan for Team Players." One of the central precepts to his book is that nothing great can be achieved without teamwork. Riley acknowledges that we have a tendency to want to do it all ourselves - he calls this trait "the enemy within." And he isn't just referring to NBA championship teams. Here are a couple of quotes from his book:

"The only successful players in industry or in sports are the team players."

"A company without team play has already lost."

Take Pat Riley's advice, and face your enemy within. Learn how to multiply your efforts through teamwork. For project leaders, supervisors and managers, this concept should be a no-brainer. A well-designed team should have built-in quality checks, readily available technical support and continuing guidance from more experienced players. These teams can provide a very fertile working and learning environment for everyone.

Tom Whitley and the staff of Management Recruiters of Kannapolis, specialize in recruiting information systems, telecommunications, and networking professionals at both the technical and managerial levels. If you are interested in discussing career opportunities, if you need assistance with your recruiting efforts, or if you have comments about the Career Advisor contact Tom at tomwhitley@ctc.net.

The e-comm team in action - successful lessons from the field
Network World, 9/13/99

Building a successful, stable e-comm team
Network World, 9/8/99

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