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Working on a Team

Jason Alba

Working on a team is an inevitable part of today's workload. This course helps you become a better team player, identify and increase your teamworking skills, and help others contribute more on a team.

In this course, we talk about the dynamics of a team, including the what and why of a team; why teams fail or succeed; team leadership issues such as power and authority, vision, and communication; and other foundational team skills. We share 24 tactics and concepts to help you become a better team contributor, and we discuss ideas for working with difficult people.

This course is no longer available. Find something similar by browsing:
Team Dynamics Team Player Skills Team Leadership Working with Difficult People

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches core concepts of teamwork in industry and academia
Develops 24 tactics and concepts for being a great team contributor
Covers working with difficult people
Taught by Jason Alba, a recognized instructor
Advisable to have some experience working on a team

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to effective teamwork

According to students, this course is a highly practical and well-structured guide to improving team dynamics and individual contributions. Learners frequently highlight its actionable advice and concrete strategies, particularly appreciating modules like 'Working with Difficult People' and those covering communication and vision. While many find the content clear and easy to follow, some experienced professionals suggest it might be too basic or lack advanced strategies. There's also a minor point about the course potentially benefiting from updates on virtual team collaboration.
Could benefit from incorporating modern work dynamics.
"I would have liked a bit more on virtual team collaboration, but overall, it was beneficial."
"Some of the older content feels slightly less relevant with remote work, but the core principles remain valuable."
Specific sections like 'Difficult People' are highly praised.
"I found the module on working with difficult people particularly insightful; it gave me concrete strategies instead of just vague concepts."
"I particularly enjoyed the segments on communication and vision within a team."
"The section on dealing with difficult team members was particularly practical."
Concepts are clearly explained and easy to digest.
"The instructor explained complex dynamics very clearly."
"It's well-structured, easy to follow, and the content is directly applicable."
"The instructor's delivery was engaging, and the concepts were broken down into digestible parts."
Offers actionable advice for immediate application.
"This course was exactly what I needed to refine my team participation. The '24 tactics' section provided incredibly actionable advice that I could apply immediately at work."
"Highly recommend this course for anyone looking to improve their team skills. It's well-structured, easy to follow, and the content is directly applicable."
"I gained practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
Content may be too foundational for experienced professionals.
"The course offers a good overview of team dynamics, but I felt some parts were a bit basic for someone with a few years of professional experience."
"I found the content largely generic. While it touched on relevant topics like leadership and difficult people, the depth wasn't there for me."
"It's probably great for beginners or those new to team roles. I didn't find many 'new' insights, but it served as a good refresher."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Working on a Team with these activities:
Create a personalized study guide
Enhance your learning by organizing and summarizing course materials, creating a valuable resource for ongoing reference.
Show steps
  • Gather all course materials, including notes, assignments, and quizzes.
  • Review the materials and identify key concepts and ideas.
  • Create a study guide that summarizes the key points.
  • Use the study guide to reinforce your understanding and prepare for assessments.
Read "The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni
Gain valuable insights into the dynamics of team dysfunction and strategies for overcoming them.
View The Ideal Team Player on Amazon
Show steps
  • Purchase or borrow a copy of the book.
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Reflect on the key ideas and their applicability to your own team experiences.
  • Identify specific actions you can take to address team dysfunctions.
Implement teamwork concepts in a real-world project
Apply the principles and techniques learned in the course to a practical project, solidifying your understanding and developing tangible skills.
Show steps
  • Identify a project that requires teamwork.
  • Form a team with clear roles and responsibilities.
  • Plan and execute the project using effective teamwork practices.
  • Reflect on the project and identify areas for improvement.
Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Working on a Team will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Team Leader
Team Leaders are responsible for leading and motivating a team of employees. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Team Leaders become better leaders and work more effectively with their teams.
See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Project Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Product Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager
Operations Manager
Operations Managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a business. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Operations Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Marketing Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager
Sales Manager
Sales Managers are responsible for leading and motivating a team of sales representatives. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Sales Managers become better leaders and work more effectively with their teams.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager
Customer Service Manager
Customer Service Managers are responsible for overseeing the customer service department of a business. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Customer Service Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Manager
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Managers are responsible for overseeing the human resources department of a business. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Human Resources Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager
Training and Development Manager
Training and Development Managers are responsible for developing and delivering training programs for employees. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Training and Development Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager
Consultant
Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Consultants become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Entrepreneurs become better leaders and work more effectively with their teams.
See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit Managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Nonprofit Managers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager
Software Engineer
Software Engineers build and maintain the software applications that we use every day. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Software Engineers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people. This course may also be helpful for Software Engineers who are interested in moving into a leadership role.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
Teacher
Teachers educate students at all levels. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Teachers become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing and improving business processes. This job is an excellent choice for someone who has taken the course "Working on a Team." The course provides a foundation in the dynamics of a team, including topics such as power and authority, vision, communication, and other foundational team skills. The 24 tactics and concepts taught in the course can help Business Analysts become better team contributors and work more effectively with difficult people.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Working on a Team.
The Ideal Team Player
Save
Fable that illustrates the five dysfunctions that can prevent a team from achieving its full potential. It useful read for anyone who wants to improve their teamwork skills.
The Ideal Team Player
Paperback
Check
The Ideal Team Player
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
In Their Own Write
Save
Classic guide to teamwork and collaboration. It provides insights into the dynamics of teams and how to create a high-performing team culture.
In Their Own Write: Contesting the New Poor Law,...
Paperback
$$
In Their Own Write: Contesting the New Poor Law,...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Senior Leadership Teams
Save
Provides a research-based approach to leading teams. It covers topics such as team leadership, team development, and team performance.
Senior Leadership Teams: What It Takes to Make Them...
Hardcover
$$
Senior Leadership Teams: What It Takes to Make Them...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
The Critical Few
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of teamwork and collaboration in organizations. It covers topics such as team dynamics, team effectiveness, and team leadership.
The Critical Few: Energize Your Company's Culture...
Hardcover
$$
The Critical Few: Energize Your Company’s Culture...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
How Google Works
Save
Provides insights into the culture and practices of Google, one of the most innovative companies in the world. It covers topics such as team collaboration, communication, and decision-making.
How Google Works
Paperback
Check
How Google Works
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
From Library Volunteer to Library Advocate
Save
Practical guide to working on team projects. It covers topics such as team dynamics, communication, and project management.
From Library Volunteer to Library Advocate: Tapping...
Paperback
$$
From Library Volunteer to Library Advocate: Tapping...
Kindle Edition
$$

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Course image
Time
103 hours
Level
Introductory
Via
Pluralsight
Instructor
Jason Alba
Language
English
Working on a Team belongs to the following collections:
  1. Upgrading Your Technology Career
  2. Upgrading Your Technology Career
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches core concepts of teamwork in industry and academia
Develops 24 tactics and concepts for being a great team contributor
Covers working with difficult people
Taught by Jason Alba, a recognized instructor
Advisable to have some experience working on a team
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