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Help New Teammates Make Entry

May 1, 2000

"People come, people go.  The make-up of the group changes.  You see a new player brought in, and you may see the substitution break the rhythm of the group.  Turnover can be hard on teamwork.

Usually, it makes sense to minimize turnover - to bring in good people, help them succeed, and take pains to keep them.  You and your teammates play a key role in this process.  Too often, when a newcomer fails to make it in the team, it's because the team failed the person.

You don't have to be soft on the new guys.  It's just fine for them to have to prove themselves and 'pay their dues.'  When people overcome high barriers to entry, it means more to be a member.  Having to make a big effort, but succeeding, creates a higher level of commitment to the team.

Still, newcomers deserve support.  It works to the team's advantage to get them settled in as soon as possible.

Do your part to help bring new teammates up to speed.  Take them under your wing.  Get to know them.  Help them get to know the group and how it operates.  Find out how they can best contribute to the team's success... then make sure you contribute to theirs (Pritchett, 1992, pp. 29-30)."

Reference:  Pritchett, P. (1992).  The team member handbook for teamwork.  Dallas:  Pritchett & Associates.

How well do you support new teammates?

* The Team Member Handbook for Teamwork is available on loan at the OSU Leadership Center.  A listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~leaders

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Created: 2009-01-02, Updated: 2009-01-12