Working with a Team

Working on websites and apps can be a very solitary work situation. 0:00 For many of you, it's easier just to do things on your own. There's nobody you have to deal with, nobody you have to wait for. 0:05 You can call the shots, you can control the pace of your work. 0:13 But working with teams and companies and even for freelancers has become part of many work experiences, 0:16 so it's important to understand the keys to being productive and effective with a team. 0:24 Teams do not work if expectations are unclear. 0:30 With the project on the line, team members must be organized and focused on specific tasks with specific timelines in place. 0:34 Understanding the expectations others have for you helps define your priorities and manage your time and deliverables. 0:43 Without this understanding, you may be working on pieces of your project that the team doesn't need yet, 0:50 or you might be going in a different direction than everyone else. 0:56 Members of teams often share files, documents, and other assets to support project deliverables. 0:59 Ensuring that you have access to the latest data means getting on board with the tools and the platforms that the team is using. 1:07 In certain situations, you'll find everything in one place. 1:14 In others, you may have to check out four or five different collaborative tools just to see what's going on. 1:18 Remain flexible but stay current. 1:24 With each project, make sure you know where the latest information documents are and you'll always remain on schedule. 1:27 Related to this, communication between team members is essential. 1:35 We all know how one thing can mess up our projects and our time tables. The effects can be multiplied when teams are involved, 1:40 even more so if these issues are not communicated. 1:49 Make sure you regularly share your progress and share any issues you encounter along the way. 1:52 Don't be afraid of sharing issues that you face. Be transparent. 1:58 The more information the team members have, the better the team's chances are at solving these problems together. 2:02 But, beyond the work, beyond the milestones, the deliverables, 2:10 understand that working with a team means interacting with other people. 2:15 Whether those team members are higher ups, contractors, interns, or anyone else, they are people too, 2:20 so respect their time. Treat them like professionals. 2:27 You don't have to know their life story or understand why they do the things the way that they do. 2:31 Recognize that if they're on your team, they have responsibilities just like you. 2:36 And, just like you, they're going to face problems. They're going to make mistakes, and they're going to need help. 2:41 Treat them like you would want to be treated, with respect and understanding. 2:46 You are working towards a common goal, so support them and they will support you. 2:52 So, if you can work well with a team, how does this benefit you? 2:59 People will want to work with you, they'll want to collaborate, 3:04 and they'll want to know that they can get results and they can do that with you. 3:07 This will lead to more opportunities. 3:11 So, whether you're leading the team or one of many collaborators, 3:14 understanding how to communicate and deal with others 3:18 while treating them with respect will always benefit the team and the project. 3:21