Teamwork

Comparing Level 1 and Level 2

Level 1

Level 2

Description

At Level 1, teamwork is about showing up, being dependable, and beginning to understand how your role contributes to shared goals. You're learning how to work within a group, how to communicate respectfully, and how to balance individual ownership with team needs. You're not expected to lead collaboration yet—but you are expected to be a thoughtful, respectful participant who listens, follows through, and is open to learning from others.

Description

At Level 2, you're a consistently positive and collaborative contributor. You're starting to work more seamlessly with others—planning together, adjusting to changing needs, and balancing your own productivity with the team's priorities. You understand that good teamwork is not just about working side by side—it's about working in sync. You anticipate needs, share context, and look for ways to reduce friction for others.

Key Behaviors

  • •
    Attends team meetings and check-ins consistently
  • •
    Completes assigned work and communicates progress
  • •
    Asks questions when unsure about expectations
  • •
    Listens to others' ideas and feedback
  • •
    Responds constructively to code reviews or suggestions

Key Behaviors

  • •
    Coordinates timing and responsibilities clearly with others
  • •
    Helps identify and resolve small team misalignments early
  • •
    Works flexibly when team priorities shift
  • •
    Offers help when teammates are blocked or overloaded
  • •
    Participates constructively in planning, retros, and decision-making

Common Struggles

  • May struggle to balance personal goals with team priorities
  • Avoids collaboration due to lack of confidence
  • Hesitates to ask for help or admit blockers
  • May unintentionally step on others' work by working in silos

Common Struggles

  • May overcommit to helping others at the expense of personal work
  • Can avoid difficult conversations about expectations or coordination
  • Might misread signals and unintentionally cause confusion or duplication

Success Indicators

  • Follow through on your responsibilities
  • Participate respectfully and consistently in team interactions
  • Are open to feedback and seek clarity when needed
  • Help create a safe, inclusive environment by being reliable and respectful

Success Indicators

  • Balance individual contributions with support for team goals
  • Adapt to changes in plans or priorities without losing momentum
  • Communicate in ways that help others coordinate and succeed
  • Collaborate smoothly, especially in day-to-day execution

Mindset Shift

From:

"I do my work."

To:

"We succeed when we work well together."

Mindset Shift

From:

"I help where I can."

To:

"I create alignment and smooth collaboration across the team."

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Who else is affected by what I'm doing?
  • How can I make others' work easier?
  • Am I easy to collaborate with?

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Who might be impacted by this change or delay?
  • Have I made my assumptions or plans clear to others?
  • Are we actually aligned on what success looks like?

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Volunteer for small shared tasks or team responsibilities
  • 2
    Proactively communicate status, delays, or needs
  • 3
    Practice gratitude and acknowledgment of others' contributions

Build These Habits

  • 1
    Clarify ownership and expectations early in a project
  • 2
    Share context as you go—not just at the end
  • 3
    Practice giving and receiving feedback on team processes, not just code

Seek Feedback

  • "Was there anything I could have done to support the team better?"
  • "Did I make things easier or harder for anyone?"
  • "How do you prefer to work together?"

Seek Feedback

  • "Is there anything I could do differently to make collaboration easier?"
  • "Did this change affect your work in any way?"
  • "How's our team dynamic feeling lately?"

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • You ask how you can help others
  • You communicate your work in ways that support team planning
  • Others comment that you're helpful, easy to work with, or reliable

Signals You're Ready to Level Up

  • You help the team avoid or resolve confusion before it escalates
  • Others ask for your input when planning or coordinating
  • Your collaboration style helps work get done faster and with less friction

Focus Summary

  • Show up
  • Stay curious
  • Grow together

At Level 1, teamwork isn't about being perfect—it's about being present, respectful, and willing to learn how to collaborate.

Focus Summary

  • Work in sync
  • Support the flow
  • Build team rhythm

At Level 2, teamwork becomes a skill in its own right. You're not just contributing—you're coordinating, adjusting, and enabling others to thrive.