Being from Green Bay, we are prone to quoting Packer players and coaches, particularly if they played on or coached a winning team and particularly if they say something worth repeating. Sean Jones who played on the 1996 Super Bowl championship team was interviewed during that season and said the following, "If you play for a team you believe in, for a coach you believe in, in a town you believe in, with players you believe in, it can improve your performance by 20%."

I'm sure Sean had no scientific study to back up his statement, but he made a valid point. Belief in the organization you work for and in the mission of that organization can improve your performance immensely. Read any article or book on motivation and you will find reference to the fact that belief is the KEY to motivation.

Peter Drucker who is widely respected as a management/leadership expert wrote in his book, Management Challenges for the 21st Century, "We have known for fifty years that money alone does not motivate to perform…[People] need to know the organization's mission and believe in it. They need continuous training. They need to see results." What does this tell us as individual members of a team? That if our companies or organizations don't provide us with training regarding their mission and how to reach it, that we should quit and find a company or organization that will? Not necessarily. No, I think an A-one Team Player looks for opportunities for training and invests in himself. How can an A-one Team Player work to build a stronger belief in what you do and who you work for?

1. Learn as much as you can about the organization or company you work for. Ask to see the mission statement and philosophy if they have one and you haven't already seen it. Read them and make sure each statement is compatible with your belief system.

2. Learn about the clients your organization serves. Whether it is a volunteer/charity organization or a "for-profit" company, you can discover what it is that your organization does to make a difference for those it serves.

Find out more about what you do and how it impacts the success of your organization. When you understand your contribution to the organization or company, it is easier to believe that the energy you give to your tasks is worth it.

3. Ask others in the organization who seem to be highly motivated to share with you what it is that energizes them. They may know great things about the company or organization that you don't know.

4. Seek opportunities to improve your skills through seminars and other training opportunities. An A-One Team Player takes responsibility for building his or her belief in the organization that he or she serves. To the degree you do so, will your contribution to the team improve.

By Wendy Mannering