In my 18-year corporate career, I witnessed firsthand the power of teamwork – how working collaboratively with an accomplished and diverse group that is in harmonious alignment with the team’s goals and desired outcomes could move mountains and achieve truly great things together. I also experienced the opposite – people desperately straining to stand out, to take credit where it was not due, and to thwart the team’s work so they could somehow rise to the top. That rarely worked for them. Usually, the selfish maverick who hogged all the attention and didn’t collaborate was found out and pushed out.
It’s important to note, though, that it can be damaging for one’s career, particularly for women in male-dominated environments, if they shy away from shining their own light, and from taking credit where credit is truly due. This is a common challenge that holds women back from advancement to leadership and earning the recognition they deserve. Overall, it’s a fine balance to strike in our careers – how to be a great team player while also standing out as a key contributor.
To learn more about what great team work is and how to become a consummate team player, I was excited to catch up with Tom Murry for his take. Murry is the retired CEO of Calvin Klein, where he ran the company for 17 years and facilitated the brand’s growth from 2.8 billion to almost $8 billion in retail sales. Prior to that, he spent the majority of his career working for iconic fashion brands (including Elie Tahari and Evan-Picone) and rising through the ranks to what he considers “the greatest job in the world,” working alongside designer extraordinaire Calvin Klein. Murry is the author of the forthcoming A Great Fit: Finding the Work That Suits You Best.
Here’s what Murry shares:
Kathy Caprino: Tom, you say that you have a “sixth sense” in identifying team players. What in your past work and life experiences has contributed to your ability to identify team players?
Tom Murry: I learned the importance of individual performance for the benefit of the entire team way back when I was a wrestler in high school. If I didn’t give my all and do all the training and work prior to getting to the mat, I would let my teammates down and they wouldn’t get the points they needed to win. And I learned from a young age how to carry my own weight. After I could no longer participate in wrestling, I pursued another passion of mine: music. I didn’t know it then, but I can say with certitude after 40 years of business experience, being in a band is just like business. In both music and business, you have to give people what they want. (And yes, sometimes people don’t know what they want until they’ve experienced it!).
Nevertheless, what the customer wants trumps all. And in order to give customers what they want, you have to come together to make it happen. Every instrument and every player counts. To create anything great — whether it’s a song or a suit — requires more than raw talent and passion, too. It requires impeccable timing, knowing when to give more, and when to hang back and let someone else shine. I learned all that before I stepped foot in an office.
Caprino: How important is it to the success of one’s career to learn how to become team-oriented?
Murry: I would go out on a limb here and say it’s the most important skill to have to be successful. You can’t get anywhere in life — or in business — alone. And the sooner you recognize that, the happier and more successful you’ll be. It requires a certain level of humility to admit you can’t do everything alone. And you know what’s even more difficult to admit? That others can do something better you. I think what makes the best leaders are those that recognize there are more talented, experienced, capable, and smarter people in a room than them — and they have the good sense to hire and then listen to them.
Even if you’re not a leader, you have to admit others are better than you.Then you have to be willing to pitch in, give, learn, step back, step up, and grow. I wasn’t always the leader of Calvin Klein, but what got me there and what kept me there for 17 years was knowing how to be a contributing member of a team.
Caprino: I’m guessing you’ve received some pushback on your messages about focusing on being a team player from people who believe that a “win at all-cost” mentality helps them succeed in the workplace. How can a professional reconcile being a great team player and while striving to stand out to advance his or her career?
Murry: I have been known to say: “It’s all about winning; otherwise, you’re wasting your time.” I firmly believe wanting to win and being a team player are not mutually exclusive. I believe when you show up at work, you have one job: to be successful. To win, if you will. If you’re not showing up every day to win, to do your best, to succeed, and to come out more profitable or ahead, then you’re wasting your time and everyone else’s.
The workplace is not a place for mediocrity or settling. Working with Calvin and his entire design team taught me the importance of excellence, striving for perfection, and not giving up until things were as great as they could possibly be. The key word here though is TEAM. We succeeded and won as a team. If you’re doing it right, everyone has a chance to shine and show his or her own abilities. You don’t want to compete with others within in your organization, you want to compete with yourself.
Ask yourself every day:
Am I doing my best?
Am I helping advance the mission of my organization?
Am I carrying my own weight?
Am I bringing my own unique skills and talents to the office?
If the answer is “yes” to all the above, I assure you you will stand out to your team members and the leaders. And don’t worry about getting credit for what you did on a daily basis. Personally, I don’t like people who take credit for everything. And it’s safe to say most of us hate it when friends or coworkers steal all the spotlight or don’t share the credit.
If you want to endear yourself to others, shine a light on the achievements of your coworkers, your colleagues, or your employees. The more you demonstrate that you’re not out there trying to get ahead of everyone else, the more you’re likely to get ahead anyway.
Caprino: What are some helpful steps for those who are struggling to fit in in a team-oriented environment? What can they do?
Murry: I recommend doing a quick self-assessment. The most basic and fundamental question you should ask yourself and answer honestly is: “Am I capable of doing this work?” In other words, are you competent?
I’ve seen people talk a big game, but the reason they need to talk themselves up so much is they don’t know what they’re doing. If you can’t carry your own weight or you are in over your head, there is no shame in asking for help. You do no one any favors pretending to know something you don’t.
Another thing I advise is asking yourself is: “Am I complaining too much?” I have found those who have time to complain are rarely doing their fair share of the work. Busy, engaged, and passionate people don’t have time to complain or compare notes on who is getting what from whom. If you’re competent, not complaining, doing your best, and you still don’t feel like you fit in, then my suggestion is to ask yourself if this is the right company for you. It’s okay if it’s not. No one wins if an employee is unhappy. Find a place where your purpose, passion, and competency align and I assure you, you’ll be a great fit.
Caprino: What have you found to be the three most essential behaviors a person can take to become a well-respected, highly-beneficial team player?
Murry: Here are my top three recommended strategies for becoming a consummate team player:
Don’t get too hung up on the way things “should” be done.
You have to be flexible if you’re part of a team. If you’re in any group, you can’t assume every single person is going to want to do things exactly your way. You have to be adaptable and have an open mind. You might even learn a better way to do things if you let others show you how they do it.
Shine a light on others.
A true team player is not threatened by others’ achievements and success. You regularly celebrate team members when they do something well. You’re genuinely happy for them — because you know that their success means the entire team’s success. I believe the best way to succeed in business is by helping others succeed.
Be generous, kind, and honest.
It’s so basic, but it is so powerful. Be nice to people. Say “please” and “thank you.” Ask people how they are doing. Offer your ideas and time. Be grateful and appreciative when others help. Be honest when you fail or don’t know something. Don’t make excuses. Don’t overstate your achievements. Don’t overpromise and under-deliver. Simply tell people what you’re going to do, and then do it — kindly and generously.
For more information about A Great Fit and Tom Murry, visit http://tommurry.com
For hands-on help to advance your career, work with Kathy Caprino, close your power gaps, and take her free webinar The Quickest Path To Your Happiest Career.
Originally published at Forbes