Sometimes, if we are lucky, our roles are well defined from the on set of the formation of a team.   More often they are not.  At what point does it become our responsibility as a team member to be conscious of what role we have taken on?

The team will go through a natural progression of first forming and then storming, norming and performing.  Have you ever watched your reactions to these stages as you work through a team project?  Does your behavior shift as you receive feedback over time?

For example, do you find you need to be “the hero” and have all the answers?  If so, how have other’s reacted to your proactive behavior?   How can you bring about teamwork into this role?  What do you think the motivation is for your need to be the hero?

Or perhaps harmony on a team is very important to you.  Do you see yourself acting as the moderator as you facilitate the processes of the team?  Again, how do the others respond to these actions?  What kind of feelings do you have when disagreements arise?  Do you sense that others share your sentiments?

We all bring our baggage to the table.  How often do we stop and take a look at it and think about how it is impacting our relationships as we evolve together through the group process?

If it is at a time in your life where stress is building to take you over it is often hard to step back and observe yourself with any positive results.  When we are “out of sorts” it is hard to see ourselves clearly.  This is the time to take advantage of those solid relationships we have developed over the years.  See if you can get the gentle feedback you need to make the right choices from those you have grown to trust.

Or, if you are ready to have a closer look at why you choose and behave the way you do hire a coach.  A coach can be a consistent objective observer who is entirely focused on your needs.  Reflection is a complex process.  We all can get wrapped up in our own belief systems to the point of justifying behaviors we haven’t checked on in years.  Is this serving you well?  We won’t really know until we have tested them out.  Learn to become your own truth teller.