I Don’t want to be a Team Player!

As someone that has worked in the emergency services for many years, I completely understand the value of working together. There is no finer example of this than on September 11th, when so many brave individuals pulled together to save as many lives as humanly possible. We will never forget!

I know many people will disagree with me, but I don’t really look at scenarios such as this one as teamwork. Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous, but please hear me out …

The word ‘Team’ in my opinion, means a gathering of individuals with different strengths and weaknesses all trying to function as one single entity. My biggest issue with ‘teamwork,’ is that many important decisions will be made by individuals with the biggest ego. They are very often the leaders of the group, and this can be a huge problem!

Unfortunately, what will often happen is that when a bad decision is made by the leader/s of a team (and I’m speaking from experience here) and questioned by someone in the group classed as being in a lower position (i.e. not the leader), their egotistical defences will go straight into overdrive.

I have been all too often on the receiving end of this during my career, with comments from team leaders such as …

“Well, it’s just the way we are doing it!”

“You’re just not being a team player!”

“Does anyone else have a problem with this decision?”

The final comment is when the team leader will often turn to the weakest speakers for support and make you out to be a trouble maker!

The fact is that teamwork only works efficiently when every voice is heard and every strength examined. But because it involves a group of individuals with many different personalities, the chances of everyone being able to add constructively becomes somewhat diluted.

Although I cannot comment with specifics, there have been many occasions in my career that give credence to my theory about the negative consequences of teamworking. It has without a doubt cost lives along the way, and that is very hard to take.

I would like to make clear that I’m not trying to say we cannot work together for the greater good. But we need to make damn sure that every individual voice is heard and there are no ego’s in the room with delusions of grandeur.

Teamworking seems to have become ingrained in our society these days as a positive work ethic that solves all problems. But in my mind it is not much different than the disturbing crowd culture that seems to cause more division than good. If anything this makes teamwork even more difficult than ever, as the two groups join together to solve problems. Rather terrifying if you ask me!

So if you’re still here (thanks team!), my own solution would be to re-examine our perception of teambuilding and make sure every individual voice is heard before any conclusions or important decisions are made.

One suggestion I have come up with is that companies could hire an impartial team of referees (oh the irony!) that will both supervise and arbitrate team meetings to ensure ego doesn’t take over decision making. This could negate the need for a team leader and get the best out of everyone (Call me any time Elon. Perhaps it will save your next rocket from exploding!)

So the next time you walk past one of those condescending posters on the office wall stating; “TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!” Perhaps think about my philosophy and become an individual player instead. It might just save a life. Or even change the world!

Thanks for reading.

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Originally posted at https://medium.com/never-stop-writing/i-dont-want-to-be-a-team-player-0bd9c95391b8