To be a standout teammate you should aim to leave your mark. Every day!
Of course, I don’t mean leave physical marks or graffiti around the hotel, office, restaurant or bar! When I say “leave a mark” I mean make an impression. Think of it as a work ethic. To be memorable or notable. And in a good way. So you are recognized as a standout teammate.
How I learned to be a standout teammate.
I learned a very valuable work ethic when I was a teenager. My friends were running errands for their parents and earning ‘pocket’ money. And I needed to earn some money too.
I convinced a local garage owner to let me help him by doing odd jobs. Such as pumping gas or working in the body repair shop.
When I first started at the garage, the owner told me that my job was not guaranteed. He said that I would need to re-earn the right to be considered for the job the next day.
That lesson stuck with me.
And it has influenced EVERY job I’ve had ever since (including my current job). It taught me to:-
- Work with gratitude
- Work with a sense of honor for my craft
- Work with no entitlement or attitude
Each day I’ve learned to reset myself.
I reset myself to be thankful, and to make a positive ‘mark’ on the day.
Whether you are an entrepreneur or work for a company, the mission is the same. Leave positive evidence every day!
The same applies when you work as part of a team. It applies to everyone who works in hospitality or tourism. Because no one truly works alone.
Are you the teammate others want to have on their team?
Pause for a moment and think about how you would describe the ideal teammate.
How do they perform?
What do they say?
Do YOU make the team better or worse?
You can work at the best company. With the best benefits and the best leaders. But at the end of the day, you STILL have to make a decision about how exceptional you are going to be.
And it is THAT decision which determines what type of teammate you are.
Here are 4 qualities of a standout teammate:
They don’t grunt and complain.
No one likes being around a grunter or complainer (unless they are one also). When a standout teammate has a complaint or issue, they quickly follow it up with a solution. Or they offer a suggestion for improvement.
They also don’t allow their mood, on any given day, to dictate how professional they’re going to be at work.
They hold their teammates accountable.
A standout teammate speaks up when there are issues in their department or team. Or when something has gone wrong. They show their colleagues they care by the constructive feedback they give. And by suggestions for how to improve or ensure an issue doesn’t happen again.
They are encouraging.
A standout teammate doesn’t wait for the leader to recognize great performance. They take the initiative to do it themselves. Recognizing and celebrating the achievements of other teammates.
They resist saying things like, “It’s not my department” or “it’s not my job”.
In the mind of a standout teammate they have one job. And that is to either serve the customer, or serve a teammate who is serving the customer. It may not be their job. But they will find the person whose job it is or do it themselves to make sure the customer has the best service experience possible.
So, it is quite simple…
What are you going to do today, to leave your mark?
Whether it is with family, guests or workmates.
In fact, whether it is with anyone you meet and anyone whose life you touch.
Start being memorable… Right away!
