Working as a team to accomplish a goal is critical to the success of any organization or group. Along with effective communication and trust, taking ownership for the mission of the team and the team's performance is another essential component of an A-one Team Player.

We understand this concept in sports better than we do in our own jobs. We look at our favorite sports team with critical eyes when they don't win. We ask questions like "Why didn't that guard do his job?" Why wasn't the quarterback with it today?" "How could that outfielder have dropped that ball? That was the difference in the game!"

Our performance on our teams may make the difference in the success of our team's "game" or ability to ultimately satisfy and serve our customers. To the degree each of us takes ownership for achieving that ultimate goal will our team be successful. We have observed numerous business teams as we tour organizations prior to working with them. Often, we converse one-on-one with team members. When we ask the person what they do, often we hear, "Oh, I am just the _____." They minimize the importance of their job by adding the word "just." Then, I like to ask them, " Do you think that this company hired you because they felt sorry for you, that they really didn't need you to do what you do? Do you think they had some extra money lying around and decided to hire someone, just to be nice?" They usually smile and reply, "Well, no. I guess they really need me to do this job." Okay, so let's go with that. If your company hired you because they really need you to do a job, does it not stand to reason that your job is really important to the success of the organization? Let me answer that for you, YES! Each person on your company's team holds a piece of the puzzle that makes up the entire organization's effectiveness. Whatever your piece is, it is an important piece. Without it, the puzzle is incomplete.

So let's take it one step further. If your job is important to the success of the organization, then it must be critical for you to take ownership for the quality of your performance. I will never forget the story of the man who had worked for an airplane manufacturer for thirty-five years. At his retirement dinner several speakers mentioned the importance of this man's job. He produced a critical part that held the propeller on the plane. No one had told him how critical this piece was before. When he stood up to give his farewell speech he said, "Gee, if I had known just how important my job was, I would have done it even better!" Every job may not hold the life-or-death drama of this man's job, but that doesn't diminish any job's importance. A-one Team Players know this, take ownership for the team's performance and do their best work every day.