Trust Your Teammate

Team, team, team! Go team go! Great teamwork! How often do you hear these phrases? Do you jump on the bandwagon and cheer, mutter inappropriate sentences, or are you indifferent?  After you answer the question, think as to why you answered the question the way you did. Did past experiences inform your answer? It's quite possible, but I don't want to speak for you.

Growing up, I despised working on a team. Before jumping to conclusions, I would like to clarify a few things. No, I was not lazy, a free loader, social loafer, incompetent, bored, or too stupid to make decisions. In fact, it was the exact opposite. I did at least 95% of the work at least 95% of the time. Sure, I enjoyed being in charge of my destiny, but it was exhausting! It didn't bother me when others would declare their lack of passion. However, it did bother me when lack of passion became lack of production. It didn't matter how many times I voiced my concerns or the concerns I voiced. All that mattered was that my "team" and I received the same grade/outcome at the end of the day. Needless to say, my experiences working on a team were not positive.

Over time, I became accustomed to doing everything. It was perfectly natural to see my teammates as abled bodied people that could mouth words as instructed. I found the loophole in the phrase "There's no "I" in team." If you look closely at the word team (in a different font style), you can find the hidden "i" in the middle of the "a." Since this mentality was well past its infancy, trusting others to help on a team was not an option. I would be guilt-ridden and would spend my time complaining about working on a team.

About a year ago (10 months and a week to be exact), my boyfriend and I became official. During the relationship, we have learned a lot about each other. One thing we have taught each other (without realizing it till recently) is that a solid relationship cannot survive without the other teammate. We both spent ample time feeling guilty about receiving help from anyone. However, we realized we could not be the best versions of ourselves if we held onto the guilt. We are still growing together, but I can honestly say we have thrown guilt in the trash can and trust the other person to be the best teammate s/he can be.

If this post hits home, then I want you to remember one thing: there are people who are as willing and eager to be a good teammate as you. Passionate, driven, and self-sufficient people do exist in the world. Life will throw people at you who are the opposite. However, if you can tame your feelings when you find gold, then you will be better for the experience. If you know of someone who is this way, please share this post with them. Who knows? You could change someone's life.