The Power of Teamworks: Rediscovering What We Left on the Playground
Remember? The childhood memories; the playground used to be our battlefield, and the teams we formed were our greatest strength. We often had confrontations about which team we should join, because even back then we knew this was going to shape our experience. At that time, winning wasn’t about who was the fastest or the strongest alone, but about how well we worked together. Yes, those were the days my friend. I know we all miss those playgrounds, even the rooftops or the backyards or the living rooms in some cases (Did you ever damage some lamps from the hitting of a ball? I did it 🙂 ).
Those memories hit hard when we pass by those barren grounds but not only memories it also refreshes what those playgrounds taught us. It was working as a team not against each other but together.
Not only now, we used to leave behind this great lesson once we stepped into the classroom. Something changed.
Suddenly, the spirit of teamwork began to fade. The same kids who once passed the ball to help their friends score started competing for the highest grades. The shared goal of winning as a team turned into a solo race for individual success.
This raises a question in our minds, Why Does Teamwork Disappear as We Grow?
Is it because society teaches us that success is a zero-sum game?
Or maybe we fear that sharing credit will diminish our worth?
Whatever the reason, the truth remains: in the real world, just like on the playground, we achieve more together than we ever could alone.
Let’s just think about it: How often do we lift each other up in our workplaces? Do we cover for a teammate who’s struggling, or do we secretly hope their failure makes us shine brighter? If we approached our professional lives like we did those childhood games, would our outcomes look different?
The solo race has made us weak as a society. Help not only brings peace but it builds society. Yes, this is true that every team needs a leader but the question is can everyone be a leader? Then who would be a team player? Why not focus on being a good team player and it would ultimately eliminate the requirement for a leader.
Reflect a bit within yourself and tell me do you see yourself as a good team player? You know what a true team player is? What are the Hidden Strengths of a True Team Player?
Being a team player is about embodying the spirit of unity in every interaction. What makes a true team player stand out? It’s not flashy skills or solo victories; it’s the quiet, powerful actions that often go unnoticed:
- Putting “we” before “me”
- Speaking up without fear
- Cheering for others’ wins
- Turning setbacks into comebacks together
Let me tell you a story of my friend Ayaan – a talented but independent graphic designer, who believed he worked best alone. One time his agency landed a big project. The deadline was tight, and the project required collaboration between designers, copywriters, and marketing strategists.As the deadline approached, problems started piling up – misaligned copy, off-track marketing, and last-minute client changes, Ayaan struggled a lot.
Seeing his frustration, his teammate Zara stepped in, rallying the team to collaborate. The writers adjusted the copy, the marketing team aligned the strategy, and Ayaan, for the first time, truly collaborated with his peers. To his surprise, the final campaign was better than he could have imagined. The client loved it, and the agency won more business.
Ayaan learned a valuable lesson that a good team player along with contributing their skills, they also uplift others, listen, and collaborate to create something greater than themselves.
So what do you think about this scenario? Are you also the one who likes to work alone or you are a team player? For me it was always a solo journey like Ayaan’s but with passage of time I also got to know that to build something big we need to put hands together.
What I learned is that team play lessens our burden and frustration.
Let Me Give You a Challenge for the Week Ahead, by the way, I have done this by myself before.
Here’s a thought: What if, this week, you acted like you were back on that playground?
- Help a colleague meet a deadline without expecting anything in return.
- Offer support to someone who seems overwhelmed.
- Celebrate someone else’s success without making it about your contribution.
By doing that you might find something very interesting. As by doing so i found out that e real winners in life are those who never stopped playing as a team.
After all, isn’t it better to lift each other up than to stand alone at the top?
So, ask yourself: When was the last time you passed the ball instead of taking the shot?
