7 Valuable Teamwork Skills for a Successful Industry Career
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If ever there was an industry where essential teamwork skills are required, it’s the film industry. Numerous departments must work together to accomplish each day’s work. Yet, not everyone on set works well as part of a group. You can set yourself apart from the crowd by brushing up on a few critical skills for team success.
Here are seven valuable teamwork skills to help you succeed at work:
- Communication.
Are you an effective communicator with your team? If not, that’s something it would benefit you to improve.
If you’ve ever worked with someone who doesn’t communicate well, you understand why it’s such a vital skill for success. Directors need to express what they want, and everyone else needs to share information with their teams.
Asking and answering questions when necessary is part of communicating effectively. Silent types who shy away from exchanging information are not well-suited to working on set.
However, anyone is capable of improving their communication skills. If yours are weak, start participating more actively with your team.
- Listening.
The flip side of communication is listening. Are you an active listener who makes an effort to understand what others are saying? Good listening is a skill that’s prized, and too few people possess it.
Give others the chance to be heard. You’ll find it will serve you well as part of your team and do a lot for your success. Good listeners are perceived as being more intelligent, too.
Listen and learn.
- Organization.
We all need to be well-organized in our industry. No one has time to waste waiting for us to find what we need to bring to set. I find it’s a confidence booster to be well organized at work. I know I’m ready for anything the day brings.
Being well-organized also helps us manage our time. Planning ahead, being prepared and organized are hallmarks of a professional who respects their team.
- Collaboration.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” That’s where collaboration comes in. Whether we work on set or off, we need the skills to work well with others.
The ability to collaborate well as part of a group is essential to everyone’s success. Good collaborators rise to the top in our industry.
Collaborate well, and you’ll be one of them.
- Conflict resolution.
It’s a rare day in our industry that doesn’t see some type of conflict happen. We’re often tired and stressed out at work, and sometimes people lash out.
It pays to be one who quickly resolves conflicts, doesn’t hold grudges, and moves on. It’s not always easy, but those who do it will be noticed, appreciated, and rewarded.
Remaining calm in the face of conflict isn’t always easy, but if you do it well, you’ll be the star of your team.
We work in an industry of volatile creative personalities. Stand out by being one who resolves conflict and doesn’t get drawn into the drama.
- Decision making.
If you’ve worked for any length of time in the film industry, you’re probably capable of making decisions quickly in a high-pressure environment. We all do this every day.
Decision-making is a valuable skill when every minute counts towards making the day’s work. We don’t have the luxury of indecision.
- Building rapport.
Building rapport with your co-workers can pay big dividends. Making connections means you help others when you can and show interest and empathy.
We spend a great deal of time with our colleagues on set. Often more time than we spend with our families. Building rapport is far more effective than pissing people off and makes the workday much more effortless.
Having a good rapport with others is a powerful teamwork skill that makes us stand out and is an asset in any department.
Conclusion
Are any of the above teamwork skills that you could improve? If so, you’re not alone.
Our jobs can often be challenging and stressful in the best of times. The pandemic has highlighted just how crucial teamwork is to get through the workday.
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that no one can do it all alone. We need our team in life and at work.