John Morrison – The ten attributes of a good team mate

Donegal team huddle

In his column in this week’s Gaelic Life, John Morrison looks at teams that are enduring champions.

He asked how teams like New Zealand rugby team and Dublin footballers become champions over long periods of time.

There are a number of reasons for this, and one of them is that they have good team mates.

He goes on to list the ten attributes of good team mates.

“The team must be the sum of the individual players without egos. There is no I in team. As a team, players as team mates must have the following 10 qualities.

“(a) Demonstrate reliability by always playing your part well. Inconsistency breeds lack of trust and disappointment.

(b) Communicate constructively by being truthful, even when it hurts. If so, players are safe to feel vulnerable.

(c) Listen actively, by that I mean liste, absorb and give each idea its due consideration. Being able to express ideas in a team is a huge driver of innovation.

(d) Function as an active participant. Good team mates are prepared for meetings and events, and seek and engage active roles.

(e) Good team mates share openly and willingly. They support and do not compete with each other. So they share tips and tricks so team mates play better.”

Read the next five attributes in the current issue of Gaelic Life.