Page Title

Play Your Position

September 19, 2000

"Dig up all the details on your assignment.  Nail every bit of it down so you will remember it.  Then, play your position.

It's tough to achieve a coordinated team effort when people leave their stations... stray into someone else's area... or just get sloppy and let things slip through the cracks. 

So get clear on what's expected of you - duties, standards of performance, time frames and deadlines you're supposed to meet.  Specifically what moves are you supposed to make?  In what sequence?  What territory are you supposed to cover?  How should you interface with others on the team?

Teamwork by definition implies interdependence.   What you do affects others.  Some people in the unit depend on your for their success, their effectiveness. What you fail to do can cause them to fail.  Chances are if you fall down on the job, you pull others down with you.  If you're out of position, you may throw the timing off for the entire group.  If you're careless about covering your assignment, teammates have to abandon their duties to bail you out.

Sometimes you'll need to cover for teammates, of course, since everyone needs a little help now and then.  But don't poke your nose into their business or get in their way.  Usually you support your teammates best by playing your position to perfection (Pritchett, 1992, pp. 9-10)"

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

How well are you playing your position?

* 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

Back to Top >

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