One of the top soft skills employers look for is the ability to perform well as part of a team. Improving your skills as a team player can give you a competitive advantage among other candidates if you're looking for a new job or shine a spotlight on your leadership skills if you're hoping for an internal promotion. The problem is that anybody can claim to be an excellent team player. You need to be able to back up your claims with real-world examples to earn the job. Here's how to upgrade your teamwork skills.

Always Meet Deadlines

Team members count on you to hit your mark. Missing a deadline can really let people down. In many projects, your teammates can't perform their tasks until yours is complete; you could be putting everyone behind on their work. If you tend to get into a crunch with deadlines, create your own must-complete date a few days ahead of time. If you find a deadline looming that you know you won't make, alert your co-workers. It will give them the opportunity to pitch in if they can or adjust project deadlines if delays are inevitable.

Communicate Effectively

Working as a part of a team means every member must always be on the same page. Ask questions if you are unsure and solicit questions from others. Use project management software like Trello, create a shared Google doc, open a team channel in Slack or simply follow up conversation with an email to clarify any decisions made or who is taking responsibilities for different aspects of the project.

Be Easy to Work With

Don't be a curmudgeon no one wants to approach with questions. Don't be unreliable or push your work off on others. There are difficult aspects to every job. There's no reason for you to be one of them. Volunteer for work that makes the best of your skills. If you're organized, take responsibility for the project calendar. If you are a patient teacher, volunteer to train your co-workers as needed.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

When people talk about teamwork, they tend to jump straight to mentoring or volunteering to lead a project. You don't have to be the leader to be a valuable part of the team. Be honest about your strengths and admit to your weaknesses. If you run into a problem, ask a team member to help you troubleshoot or to walk you through a process one more time.

The Team at PrideStaff is Here for You!

We're here to help, whenever you're ready for it! Check out the current opportunities on our job board or contact PrideStaff to learn more.