Can you believe it’s already back-to-school time? The return to school this year will undoubtedly present a unique set of challenges—the sort of challenges that are best faced by adopting a good teammate’s mindset.
Here are ten ways for both students and teachers to be a good back-to-school teammates:
1. Exhibit patience. Enter the year expecting the unexpected. Teams are rarely in sync when they are coming off prolonged periods of disconnect. No matter what challenges arise, be patient. You don’t have to abandon your commitment to excellence, but you may need to temporarily defer it for the sake of the team.
2. Practice punctuality. In general, being on time and keeping on schedule are good teammate practices. But at the start of the school year, punctuality is addedly important. School leaders are already overburdened with stress. You can alleviate some of their stress by arriving extra early to functions and giving them one less thing to worry about.
3. Share resources. Can you lend a pencil to a classmate who doesn’t have one? Can you lend some classroom supplies to a teaching colleague who doesn’t have enough? Willingly sharing resources strengthens teammate connections.
4. Share knowledge. Good teammates share more than their resources. What knowledge have you acquired through experience? Sharing your experience with a new student or new staff member can accelerate their assimilation into the team.
5. Look for loners. Good teammates leave no teammate behind! Be on the lookout for individuals sitting alone, eating lunch by themselves, or otherwise not being included. Go out of your way to make those individuals feel welcome by introducing them to your group and getting them involved in what you’re doing.
6. Model behavior. Your example is everything. Unfamiliarity can be frightening. Those who aren’t sure how to handle unfamiliarity may model their behavior after you. How you look, speak, think, and act matters. Make sure your example is worth emulating.
7. Follow instructions. Listen intently to instructions and do your best to follow them with precision—especially in the beginning of the year. This is not the time to listen halfheartedly or distractedly. Focus lays the groundwork for an accelerated future.
8. Learn Expectations. View learning what is expected of you as your responsibility. Ideally, the team’s leadership would convey expectations to you, but they may be too preoccupied with other issues to be able to do so. Take it upon yourself to learn what they specifically expect of you and do your best to comply.
9. Divulge Details. Trust leads to team success. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and tactfully divulging details about your life is a way to build trust through familiarity. We trust who we know. Have the courage to share your life with others.
10. Extend kindness. When you care, you’re kind. The kindness and empathy you convey today may be what keeps someone from breaking tomorrow. Kindness is found in stepping outside of your comfort zone, inconveniencing yourself for another, and making sacrifices for the greater good. Kindness leads to kinship.
May the school year get off to a good start for every student, teacher, parent, and administrator. I hope you find fulfillment in your respective endeavors and that you are all able to be good back-to-school teammates.
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
TEACHERS & PTO
Looking for resources to encourage good teammate behavior in your classroom? You can download FREE posters and worksheets here. Want to purchase Be a Good Teammate books? Contact info@coachloya.com for bulk pricing. We give educators huge discounts!
