Most of your programming career will be spent working in teams with other people. Embrace teamwork as early as possible.
One of the most common questions developers are asked during interviews is whether or not they consider themselves to be a strong team player.
And although this question is a bit generic and overused (not to say cliché), it is being asked for a good reason: teamwork is (very) important.
In times of crisis like the one we are experiencing in 2020 with COVID-19, it is interesting to note some facts. Community and teamwork are being of vital importance.
Even if sometimes it’s for strange reasons like buying tons of toilet paper for no apparent reason or building a hospital in less than 10 days .
We see the power a community has when it comes together around a cause. In this case, on a global scale.
On a smaller scale, we have our family, friends, people we study with, work with, who live in the same neighborhood, city, and so on.
This also applies to us developers with our team .
Programmer’s dilemma
I know that sometimes all we want is a comfortable chair, air conditioning, good internet, headphones and a good cup of coffee. That’s not too much to ask for, is it? And there’s nothing wrong with that. Individualities should be respected. And even if you work as a freelancer or have your own blog or website that doesn’t require a lot of work, you might be able to maintain this lifestyle.
But what you’ll probably see most of the time is this . A desk, multiple monitors, developers, and mugs. That’s a much more common environment, I can safely say.
And those guys next to you are probably the ones who are on your team. We often give teams names. Prometheus, BlueSky and Lions were some of the team names I’ve been on.
If you think that in the first scenario you will be more productive or that you will be able to finish the work faster, you may be wrong.
Great teams can be more effective than all individual skills combined.
This is known as synergy.
But there is another side to the same coin.
Weak teams may be less effective than the least effective person on the team.
“It only takes one bad apple to spoil the rest”
Just make sure you’re not that apple.
Teams win or fail together
Regardless of the project you are going to take on and the size of the team, the ultimate goal that should prevail is the collective goal, not the individual one.
“It is better to have one person working with you than three people working for you”Dwight D. Eisenhower
When members feel that they are in a competition or that individual success is enough, that team undoubtedly has a high chance of failure.
Talent wins games, but only teamwork wins championships.Michel Jordan
When all team members have the same goals and failure or success is at the team level, not at the individual level, the interest of each team member is converted to the interest of the group.
The contagious power of example
Your boss or company may have placed you on a team where each member is rated individually and the whole “we’re in this together” attitude is hard to maintain.
Or, you might hear from team members themselves something like, “This is how we work better, it’s always worked.” These are teams that have never seen true teamwork in action.
This is an attitude that can and should be changed. And it can start with you.
You might choose to show team spirit by slowing down to help a colleague, giving feedback, or communicating the overall status of the project to the team.
Don’t just try to finish your activity as quickly as possible to “show off.” This is not a competition.
The influence of just one person’s example can be powerful.
Teamwork leads to learning
Each person has their own set of skills, strengths, and weaknesses. When the whole team works together, people can also take the opportunity to learn from each other.
If you consider yourself the “last cookie in the packet”, know that there will always be people who know more or at least have the same level of knowledge as you.
A project that doesn’t challenge you or take you out of your comfort zone may not be the ideal project for you to evolve as a developer.
A challenging project will require all the help you need. That’s where teamwork comes in, and you have a chance to increase your portfolio of solutions.
If you’re the smartest person at the table, you’re at the wrong table.
Different perspectives help find innovations
It’s that simple, sometimes you only know one way to solve a problem, which is great, in the end you will solve the problem. But maybe that’s not the most efficient way.
If someone on your team has already experienced a similar problem and also knows how to solve it, this might be an excellent opportunity for you to learn something new.
If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.Peter F. Drucker
In conclusion
Nothing great can be accomplished by just one person. A great idea can come from one person, but putting it into practice requires a team.
As a developer and team member you can and should always:
- Express your opinion
As a developer, you are an active part of the project, your opinion and solutions are valuable and you should always share them. This not only shows that you are actively involved in the discussion, but also shows that you care about the well-being of the team and the project.
- Always be ready to take one more step
If you want to be a good team member, you should always be willing to go the extra mile for the team. Helping out with a task that is completely outside your scope is a great way to help the team complete the project. Not to mention that this type of attitude will undoubtedly create strong bonds between you and your team members.
Recognize the individual efforts of your colleagues, value the lessons learned. Value teamwork.
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