Why you need to be a leader and a team player
Roles are complementary, but adapting is tricky
From CareerBuilder.com
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One of TV's hottest shows is "The Apprentice," and week after week, Americans watch as Donald Trump sends another hopeful candidate packing.
In many cases, the firing decision has come down to two important factors: teamwork and leadership.
Employers are looking for well-rounded individuals who can adapt quickly to today's fast-paced environment. They want workers who know when to take charge and know when to play a supporting role.
The fact is, the most successful employees are able to take a leadership role and still be a solid team player, and know that these two qualities are complementary. The trick is knowing when to step in and lead, and when to support the rest of your team -- and then demonstrating to a potential employer that you can wear both hats.
Playing both roles
The first step is learning how to play both roles. A successful businessperson is able to seamlessly move back and forth between leading and supporting by recognizing which quality works best in every situation.
It's essential to understand others around you and recognize the strengths and qualities of your co-workers. Take, for example, a group of people who all have very strong personalities and want to lead the team. If no one plays a supporting role, the bulk of the time will be spent in a power struggle. Alternatively, if there is a group in which no one wants to grab the reins and lead the team, the group is also headed toward failure.
Use your ability to read others and understand that each situation is unique. Keep your objective in sight and find the right push and pull needed to move toward your team's goal.
Selling both skills in an interview
Showing potential employers that you possess both qualities may be the key to landing the star role at a company. When it comes to showcasing your leadership abilities, you need to show that you can have qualities like vision, mental toughness, respect for peers, willingness to take responsibility for your actions and decisions, flexibility and acceptance of change.
Think of times when you took on a project as the manager and led your team to success. Describe what you did to take charge, what you did to keep the project on task, and how you handled setbacks, obstacles and disagreements.
Another way to demonstrate your leadership skills is by describing a situation where you dealt with conflict. Have you been in a situation where you had to convince others to see something your way or follow your recommended plan of action?
Sit down and think about the times in your life that you have led others to a successful finish. This does not have to be just in a professional setting. Were you involved in an extracurricular organization in college where you held an office, ran an event or recruited others? Did you ever take the initiative at work and proactively develop a plan for improving a process or other area of your company?
Next comes demonstrating your teamwork skills. An employee is not valuable if he or she is never able to step back and let others make a significant contribution.
Think about times when you supported others around you on both formal teams and informal groups. Evaluate situations in which you let others take on the "top dog" role. Have you been in a situation where you needed everyone's input and expertise to make a project successful? When have you had to work harmoniously with others who had different work and communication styles than you?
Be sure to come up with concrete examples, and be prepared to discuss how you interacted with a team or task force, how you worked through conflict and problems, and what value you gained from being a member of a team that worked together effectively.
Tying the two skills together
Once you have identified these leadership and team-player situations, you must be able to articulate how you determine which role to take. You might have a strong "Type A" personality, but can you demonstrate your ability to support a plan that you did not develop?
You may be one who is more comfortable being in the background, but can you convince an employer that you know when and how to step up to the plate when you are needed?
The best job candidates, just like the last hopefuls standing in "The Apprentice," are able to convince an employer that they are the complete package.
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