From Management’s Point of View ~Support the Success of Your Teammate~

December 25, 2024

When you simply write, “supporting coworkers’ success,” it looks very straightforward. Most organizations, including private firms, talk about the importance of teamwork. However, don't you feel that there are surprisingly few organizations where good teamwork and supporting teammates' success are part of the culture? Here, I want to consider how to support teammates’ success, looking at it in stages.

Stage 1

For new hires or staff members without much experience, the first thing required is to understand one’s own role and execute the relevant responsibilities. From the supervisor’s perspective, they cannot expect more peace of mind from new employees who complete their assigned tasks without making mistakes. As indicated in my former article, “Deliver the Best Possible Performance in the Given Circumstance” if entry-level staff can do their assigned jobs properly, they are sufficiently supporting their teams.

Stage 2

After acquiring some experience, one gradually becomes more proficient at tasks. At that point, such a person would notice when a newly hired coworker struggled with doing something. It is quite an accomplishment when someone reaches the level where they can show a coworker with less experience how to do their job. No one will dislike a supervisor or coworker who doesn’t mind the effort in teaching others. And that is the place where the sense of leadership begins.

Stage 3

Once someone masters their job and can competently manage the progress of others, it will be good to start looking at what their boss is doing. In almost every company, people get busier as they move up the ranks. The idea is that in addition to one’s job, one can start to see what is necessary to support the boss and perform accordingly. In that process, the nature of what the boss does in their job gradually becomes apparent. That, in turn, prepares for taking the next step upwards.

First, execute one’s responsibilities; next, guide those with less experience; and finally, support the boss in theirs in addition to one’s own work. By pursuing growth through these stages, one not only supports one's teammates but also shapes one's own career. As the number of such employees expands, the company also grows.

Looking ahead to the forthcoming continuation of this theme, I will be taking up why so few organizations foster this type of culture.