Unit 6   Text A

We often hear the word “teamwork”. But what is the essence of teamwork? How do individuals relate to one another in a team? Are you a team player? Understanding these questions can surely promote team spirit as well as individual development. 

What Does Teamwork Really Mean?

Sharon Saw

 1           Inmany job interviews, a common question is whether the interviewee is a “team player”. More often than not (unless the interviewee is particularly stupid, or maybe particularly honest but doesn’t want the job), he or she will say “yes”. But what does being a team player really mean?

2            On the most basic level, a team player is someone who can work within a group of people. This group is a number of people greater than one. Even if there are only two people in the group, they can be called a “team”. Therefore it is an essential requirement of any employment that any potential employee is a team player.

3           On a deeper level, a team player is someone who can play a role in the team, to achieve and support the goals set and agreed upon by the team. The simplest analogy to the corporate team would be a sports team. There are two main aims of the football team. One is to score goals and the other is to prevent the opposition team from scoring. In football, there are eleven players per side, and almost the same number of players in reserve. There are also other vital members of the team in the background, such as the coach, the doctor, etc.

4            Every member of the team has a very specific role—as a captain, goalkeeper, striker, midfielder or defender. Every member of the team is vital to the success of the team. If there is one player missing, the team is handicapped. If one player does not perform to the best of his or her ability, the team is handicapped.

5           The captain is there to give direction to the team, in strategy, motivation and inspiration. But he or she also has to play as part of the team. Egos do not play any part in teamwork. If one’s egogets in the way, such as if one player wants to score a goal and be a hero, he or she may take rash actions instead of maybe letting another person score or helping to create the opportunity to score.

6           Similarly in the corporate world, each company has its clearly defined goals. Usually these are not as easily specified as in a football match. And it is the job of every employee to ensure that these goals are met. Every member of the corporate team should have specific roles and responsibilitiesin view ofachieving these goals.

7           There can only be one captain of the company, and he or she should be responsible for giving leadership andguidanceto the team members.The leader should alsocontinuouslycommunicate the overall business strategy, as well as providing motivation and inspiration to the team.The leader has to have the loyalty of the team. If the team is notloyalor has no respect for the leader, the members of the team will not listen to the captain and theobjectivesof the company would not be achieved.

8           Inevery action of the team, the objectives of the company, and or, business strategy, MUST be first and foremost. The success of the team relies completely on every member of the team carrying out their roles and responsibilitiesin line withthe direction of the leader.There has to be a “oneness” of the corporate culture.There is no room in the company for anyone who does not share the same corporate goals or objectives.

9           Being  a team player does not mean that you do not have any ideas of your own. It does not mean you should always agree with the rest of the team. It does not mean that you should merelyfollow the herd. There are times when your vision maydifferfrom the vision of the company, the leader or the rest of team.It may be avalidvision and if you believe in it strongly enough, you should share it with the rest of the team.Your idea maycomplementthe corporate objectives and goals. Or it may not.If the leader is a competent one, he or shewillassess it on its meritsand not let ego get in the way.However, should the team not agree with your vision, don’t take it personally.

10        They may find the idea inappropriate, not YOU personally. Don’t take it as a sign of personal rejection. A good leader should be able to communicate this to a team member, but if he or she doesn’t, and it turns out as appearing to be a rebuff, don’tlose heart. If the team found YOU inappropriate, you would be the first to know. If your leader or team members see that you can handle rejection of your ideas in a mature manner, it is onlyto your own credit.

11       Don’t be afraid to offer new ideas even seemingly crazy ones. Everyone in the team shouldfeel free tooffer ideas and not worry about them beingdismissed. Usually when ideas are nottaken up, people may take it as a personal rejection. Don’t. Just accept it, and move on. There is work to be done.

12        The pleasure of working in an environment where every member of the team is a team player is unparalleled. If you are not enjoying your working environment,chances are high thatyour team is also not working well. Ask yourself this:

13        Are you a team player?

14        Are your own objectives in line with those of the team?

15       Are your team objectives in line with those of the company? If not, why not?

课文A 参考译文

团队精神的真正含义是什么？

沙伦·索

1   面试中常会问到的一个问题就是，接受面试者是否具有团队精神。通常情况下，回答是肯定的，除非接受面试者特别愚蠢，或者特别诚实而且不想要这份工作。但团队精神的真正含义是什么呢？

2   在最基本的层面上，有团队精神的人就是能够与群体合作的人。只要有两个或两个以上的个体在一起就可以称为“团队”。因此，未来的员工是否具备团队精神，对任何工作而言都是一个至关重要的必备条件。

3   从较深层次而言，具备团队精神的人能够在团队中扮演特定的角色，能支持和达成团队协定的目标。打个最简单的比方，一个企业团队就好比一个运动队。足球队有两个主要目标，一是进球，一是阻止对手进球。足球运动中，每一方有十一名队员，还有差不多相同数量的替补队员。场外还有其他不可或缺的成员，如教练和队医等。

4   球队的每一个成员都扮演着特定的角色，如队长、守门员、前锋和中场防守球员。每一个队员对整个球队的成功都有至关重要的意义。任何一名队员缺阵，全队表现都会受到影响。任何一名队员不全力以赴，全队也会受到拖累。

5   队长的作用是给全队提供方向，包括战略、动力和灵感方面的，但他/她同时也应该是整队的一分子。自我主义在团队合作中没有立足之地。如果一个人的自我意识干扰了他/她的思维，比如某个队员想要进球、出风头，他/她可能会鲁莽行动，而不是助攻或让队友射门。

6   企业界的情况也类似，每一个公司都应该有清晰界定的目标，不过这些目标通常不会像足球比赛中那么清楚具体。每个员工都有责任去确保实现这些目标，公司团队的每个成员应该相应地有具体的目标和责任范围。

7   公司里只能有一个“队长”，其责任就是领导和指挥团队成员，不断地与团队就整体策略进行沟通，并为成员提供动力与灵感。领导应该能令整个团队忠实于他。如果团队不忠心或不尊重领导，团队成员就不会听从“队长”指挥，公司的目标也就无从实现。

8   在团队的每个行动中，务必将公司的目标或商业策略放在首要位置。团队能否成功，完全取决于团队每个成员是否能完成自己的角色任务和责任，能否与领导的指挥保持一致。企业文化中必须有“一致性”，公司中绝不允许某个人的目标或目的与公司的共同目标不一致。

9   具有团队精神并不意味着你不可以有自己的想法，也不意味着你应该总是附和其他队员或者只是随大流。有时，你的想法也许与公司、领导或是团队的其他成员的看法不一致。也许是一个值得一试的想法，如果你很有信心，就应该与团队其他成员分享。你的想法也许可以补充公司的目的与目标，也许不可以。如果领导称职的话，他/她就会客观评价这个想法，而不会令自我意识在那里作祟。不过，要是团队不赞同你的想法，也不要觉得是人身攻击。

10   他们也许觉得这个想法不合适，而不是觉得你这个人不行，所以你不要觉得这是针对个人的。一个优秀的领导应该能够将这种情况与队员沟通，但就算他/她没有这么做，让你感觉受到了冷落，也不要灰心。如果团队觉得你不行，那你自己肯定会最先察觉。要是领导或团队成员看到你能成熟地应对自己的想法被拒绝，那只能对你有好处。

11   不要害怕提出新的想法，哪怕是表面看来有些疯狂的也不要紧。团队的每一个成员都应该无拘无束地提出想法而不担心是否会被拒绝。通常情况下如果想法没有被采纳，人们会认为是针对个人的。不要这么想。接受事实，然后继续前进。工作总是要做的。

12   在每个成员都有团队协作精神的环境里工作，那种愉悦是无与伦比的。如果你不喜欢现在的工作环境，多半是因为你的团队运作不好，问问你自己：

13   你有团队合作精神吗？

14   你与团队的目标一致吗？

15   你的团队与公司的目标一致吗？如果不一致，原因在哪里？