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5 Ways To Stand Out As a Team Member at Work

When it comes to our careers, most of us aim to succeed. We all want to position ourselves in such a way to ensure we qualify for promotions, raises, and/or high performance reviews in our workplaces. The goal of course is to be our best selves. Like other facets of life, we need to show up for our careers and advocate for our own success. Being the absolute best in the workplace is critical in order to be successful and to reach employment happiness.

So, how do we champion at work? A big part of our success in the workplace depends on our abilities to network, collaborate with others, and be a team player. Work is hardly autonomous. Even if you feel like you maintain responsibilities for specific job duties on your own, you have to think bigger picture. Your role in a company feeds into the overall structure of your workplace. Hence, teamwork is an absolutely necessary skill to acquire.

Since teamwork is so powerful and important, here are five foolproof ways to stand out as a member of the team:

1. Invest yourself in your team.

Your colleagues are your work family. It’s important to not only have decent chemistry on a personal level, but you also need to have a positive working relationship with your coworkers. Maintain a healthy balance of professionalism and friendliness.

If you want to stand out as a positive team member, befriend your colleagues and work well with them. Don’t hesitate to ask your colleagues about their weekends or offer to make them a cup of coffee to combat the afternoon lull.

Similarly, be sure you familiarize yourself with their working styles and encourage them to learn yours. Being a team player is a delicate balance of give and take. Contribute to your team in professional and personal ways.

2. Ask for more work.

If you find that you have lulls during your work day, don’t be afraid to ask your direct supervisor for more work. Inquire about possible projects you can take on to demonstrate your high work ethic. Offer to help a coworker out by assisting them on an assignment.

Taking on more responsibilities is going to highlight your value to the team in a big way. If you supervisor watches you work hard, take on more duties, and invest yourself in the company, chances are you will be rewarded with praise and qualify for a promotion and/or raise down the road.

3. Acknowledge big events in the company.

Do your best to stay abreast of big events in your company. Whether it’s a colleague’s birthday or a death in a coworker’s family, be sure to pay attention.

You don’t need to spend big money on the people you work with, but consider picking up a card or baking a sweet treat for someone’s birthday, wedding announcement, and the like. Think about sending sympathy flowers to offer your condolences if someone in your company experiences loss.

Acknowledging events happening in the lives of the people you work with is a great way to not only display good practices as a human being, but also as a team player. Not to mention, what goes around comes around and this is the best kind of karma.

4. Do your research.

A career is more than a job; it’s your livelihood. Being a stand out employee in your workplace requires you to know the ins and outs about the company you work for. Do your research. Study the history of your company’s origin. Familiarize yourself with not only current employees, but also stakeholders in the community.

Make sure you know the mission and vision of your company inside and out. Understand the core values your company holds. Being well versed in your company’s culture, history, and chief goals will help you being an important asset to your team for sure.

5. Lead by example.

It goes without saying that if you want to stand out as a member of the team, you need to lead by example. Follow your company’s dress code religiously. Speak to every single person (e.g. coworkers, administrators, customers, etc.) with utmost respect and professionalism. Be punctual each work day and complete your assignments in a timely fashion.

Being your best self in the workplace means leading by example for others to follow. Being a leader is a sure way to stand out in the team and find success in your career.

Being your best self in your career is the surest way to be a stand out member of the team. By following these original GenTwenty tips you’re bound to shine in the workplace. Share your own tips in the comments below!

About the Author

Rachael Warren (Tulipano)

Rachael is a University of Southern Maine graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Sociology. She remotely works full-time as a Senior Content Marketing Specialist for Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. In her leisure time, Rachael enjoys traveling with her husband, finding the next Netflix series to binge, and taking too many photos of her dogs Jax and Kai. Rachael is obsessed with chapstick, favors the Oxford comma, and is a proud Mainer. You'll likely find her exploring New England + beyond.