Is teamwork taught or does it come naturally?

Question: Is teamwork a natural gift or a learned skill?

I was taught by my two older brothers what teamwork means and how to be a good team player. They pounded its importance into me at a young age.

Even in business I refuse to throw a team member under the bus when things get rough. When times get better, it’s hard to forgive those who abandoned the team for their own survival.

When I observe athletics for National Scouting Report, watch how people treat each other in everyday life, or how groups cooperate or disintegrate in business, it’s obvious some people are really good at teamwork and others simple don’t get it, don’t want to get it or never learned how to get it.

Genuine team players are loyal beyond words. They go the extra mile for their teammates. Taking care of their own is more important than nearly anything to them.  They don’t run to the coach or boss to point out others’ mistakes just so they can look good.  Instead, they address issues they have directly so that the correction is made personally and misunderstandings are settled for the good of the team, not for to the satisfaction of either person’s ego.

That is not to say that when someone on a team steps way over the line that the culprit should not be handed over to the coach for a serious course correction.  But there is definitely a line where team members, when guided by a sound moral compass, are better off settling problems internally.

Whether I would have learned good teamwork naturally without my brothers’ prodding is something I can’t answer.  Hopefully, I would have, but how would one know for sure?  Looking at others’ behavior gives us clues and helps us examine how we might have evolved.

Four signs of a person good at teamwork:

• Share and share alike:  These people understand that for a team to thrive, sharing is an integral ingredient.  When people openly share with each other — equipment, personal stories, or ideas — they create an environment of trust.  And mutual trust is what every good coach looks for in a healthy team.
• Dust yourself off:  People more concerned with the team than with themselves get over slights, injuries and problems faster than those focusing most all their attention on themselves.  These are resilient, hard-working athletes. There is not a coach anywhere who does not love a hard worker.
• Brush distractions aside:  When a team comes together, whether for practice or a game, distractions inhibit progress.  Players who can quickly recognize distractions and effortlessly brush them to the side are mature athletes with the ability to set a positive example teammates will follow.
• Fun catalysts:  The people who can balance hard work and fun in any setting are often the people who solidify teams. With these catalysts injecting humor and energy, the entire group can feed off them and hop into a positive groove.

Three signs of a person not good at teamwork:

• Petty party:  No problem is too small, or too petty, for this person to run straight to the coach with finger pointing at the offender. Good coaches hate this. Really good coaches, in many situations, say, “You don’t need me to take care of this.”  Poor coaches have a need to solve everyone’s problems, wasting a lot of time on trivial matters.
• Bossy boss:  Most bossy people jump into that role far earlier than they should.  Their need to control and speak before needed means they are insecure and want to set the stage on their own terms before anybody else has a chance to weigh in. Good coaches dislike bossy players. They don’t mind players who are assertive at the right time, but bossy players are an unnecessary nuisance.  Some people mistake bossiness with leadership, but the two are very different.
• Frown town:  People who aren’t good at teamwork are usually unhappy and frown a lot, usually because things are out of their control and aren’t going their way.  They most often find themselves out of the team’s circle of friends and confidants.  Coaches are sometimes surprised to find these people on their team.  During tryouts these people usually look normal, but they are not.  In life, these are all bad signs of things to come for this person.  Life will be hard.

What’s your take on teamwork?  Does it come naturally or does it have to be taught? Please give us your thoughts.