Instilling a Sense of Teamwork
My wife’s nephew is finishing up his 2nd year of medical school. As his classes are ending for this semester, he is about to take a major exam in his journey to becoming a doctor. The exam will be given in the first week of April 2023. During these next 5 to 6 weeks, he will be busy studying for the exam.
While I had anticipated that all that studying might be by himself, my wife informed me that during the next 5 to 6 weeks his studying will include sessions with a study team. When she said that, I thought about his journey from the beginning since he had started his medical school studies. I knew during normal class semesters he was part of a regular study group. In fact, all the medical students were assigned to them from the beginning of being accepted into medical school. The participants in the various groups did not all necessarily have or did not believe they would go into the same specialties. However, what they all had in common was their desire to be able to use the skills they had to help others as their talents are developed.
As I gave this all more thought, I thought about my experiences where I was cared for by medical professionals. As one who has had seven angioplasties, a few colonoscopies, and occasional other procedures, I thought back on my experiences in the operating room, (whether for same day or overnight surgery). And, the one thing that occurred to me was how coordinated all the various personnel and functions were to each other. Certainly, I was glad to see that fact. But, as I thought about it further, I realized, that if my wife’s nephew and his classmates experience with school is typical, (and I certainly believe it is), the “sense of teamwork,” is something instilled in the participants from the minute they begin the study process.
While obviously we are all responsible for ourselves and our successes and failures, it does not mean that we must go it alone. One of the concepts that as a career coach, (and this is true of myself and my other colleagues in the profession), is to partner with others that may be in job search. Those others may be seeking different job roles. They may not have much understanding of your profession. However, they are sharing similar experiences in terms of approaches and disciplines that may be used in the job search process. Additionally, chances are that when one individual’s mood may be down and they need encouragement, another job seeker may be able to provide it through items they learned through their experience. Or, at times, perhaps another job seeker can be an “accountability partner” to another, making sure they are doing the tasks and follow up contacts they committed that they would do.
Where in your life might you benefit by partnering with others? Are there organizations or groups you can join to get that “sense of team?” If not, are you willing to create and coordinate such a group yourself? Have you sat down to think through the types of disciplines or personalities you want as part of a support team of which you would want to be a part?
Needing a support team is not just when one is in school, at low times in their life or when they are in a sense of crisis. It is an ongoing need as one proceeds from chapter to chapter in their life. Certainly, there may be days you may need to step back from the team and need some time for yourself. We all have that happen to us. But, having that group of people you can go to, (or different groups of people you can go to, based on different needs and interests), are ways to help guide you (and those who support you), through your most difficult situations. Just think of that the next time you are dependent on a group of others to pull you through a harrowing situation.
