Teams in the Workplace: Do They Work?

I learned at the young age of 14 what "teaming" actually meant. I had an after school job at the local cleaners where they contracted work from hotels, motels, and inns. The owners were two very old, mean men and they did not allow talking to other workers or even chewing gum. As a team, we had to make light of their outlandish rules and make sure our jobs were completed satisfactorily. It was difficult to not be able to communicate with the person standing next to me but I did not complain.

I learned a lot about teaming from the above experience but little did I know that I would learn a lot more as the years past. I cannot think of a position I have held that did not include working within a team or at least with another employee. Each experience allowed me to grow and become a great team member.

While I was employed at GE it was very important to maintain a strong communication between departments. Without that, and understanding from older, more experienced employees, I would have not been able to succeed in my job. There were weekly meetings to discuss quality errors and our ideas for solutions were always welcome. Whenever I had a question concerning my duties there would always be someone there to lead me in the right direction. I realized then how important being on a team was.

After some time I began teaching the casting classes and made sure that I showed my students the same patience and understanding that I was so lucky to receive when I was new to the company. New employees, no matter how educated they are, still need respect while learning a skill which is alien to them. Without my ability to listen to their questions they would have felt as if they were alone in a large world without someone to look to for help. I could never put a person in that position.