Teamwork is the key to success

A team is a group of people who work together to achieve a common goal. When you start a new job, you will be expected to become part of the team. This doesn’t happen right away. It will take some time for you to learn your job and for co-workers to get to know you and know what your skills are. As you get better at your job, others will begin to respect you. Here are some suggestions:

• Get to know your co-workers. You will be spending a large part of the day with them, so you want to have a pleasant working relationship.
  
  
• Learn your job. Find out what others expect from you. Pay attention to how co-workers do their job and follow their lead. As you learn your job, you may come up with a better way to do things. Ask before you change anything because there might be a reason why things are done a certain way.
  
  
• Don’t be overly sensitive. People at work often show their fondness for each other by teasing and joking. If this happens, don’t get angry. Be a good sport and let others know you also appreciate a good joke. If you really can’t handle the joking, talk to your co-workers first, before talking to your supervisor. Of course, if the jokes are cruel, are in the form of sexual or racial discrimination, let your supervisor know.
  
  
• Be discreet about your illness. Consumers who have had a lot of experience with support groups or therapy are usually very open about their disorders. Talking about your mental health problems is appropriate in a support group but it is not appropriate on the job. Most mental health professionals and consumers are accepting about mental illness. This may not be true in a work situation. Many people in the community are still ignorant about mental illness and beleive common stereotypes. As you make close acquaintances, you will have to decide on an individual basis whether or not to disclose information about your illness.
  
  
• Don’t be a know-it-all. You are the new kid on the block. Get to know your company and co-workers before you try to change things.
  
  
• Don’t get involved in gossip. There may be times when co-workers try to get you to listen to gossip about another team member. Gossip at work is something you should always avoid. It is hurtful and has never solved a problem.
  
  
• Share credit when it’s deserved. If a co-worker helps you with a project, share the credit. Taking credit for someone else’s work is like stealing – you are stealing their appreciation and their respect.