Are You a Team Player?

Being a team player means more than just getting along. It means doing your job in a way that helps everyone on the team do theirs. In a school kitchen, everyone should know their role, why it matters and how it affects the rest of the team. Whether you prepare food, serve students, cashier or wash pans, someone else depends on how you do your work.

Every job in a school nutrition operation is important, but timing determines what needs attention first. Being a team player means noticing when someone needs help and speaking up early when you're the one falling behind. If you think your own work can't wait, talk to your manager, who sees the bigger picture and sets priorities. Remember, work happening in the office may have deadlines just as important as work in the kitchen. Teamwork isn't about whose work is more important. It's about what needs to happen for the team to accomplish its purpose.

When a team stops working together, it becomes harder to rely on the quality and safety of the meals coming out of the kitchen. Not following procedures can introduce an allergen, delay service, or cause a shortage of food. Teams begin to break down when employees focus more on their own responsibilities, lose sight of their shared purpose and stop looking out for one another.

If you're the manager, accountability is essential to protecting your team. What you allow becomes the norm. Address problems early, have the difficult conversations, and reinforce the standards you expect everyone to follow. Start with these four habits that every employee can practice to become a better team player.

Know your part

Think about a high-performing pit crew. Each person knows their job and follows the same procedures so the crew can work safely and quickly. If one person suddenly decides to do it “my way,” everyone else has to adjust, and an important step could be missed. In a school kitchen, your teammates also plan their work around shared procedures. If you wonder why a step matters, ask, don't skip it. If you see a better way, talk with your manager before making changes.

Own your part

No one enjoys being corrected. Still, feedback can help you see something you missed. Listen, learn and make the adjustment. When you take responsibility for what you can improve, you help keep the same problem from becoming someone else’s to fix.

Say your part

Pass along what your teammates need to know to do their jobs. Tell the right person early when something happens or when you need help. Stick to what affects the work and leave gossip out of it.

Do your part

Begin paying attention to the team's progress, not just your own tasks. Recognize when a coworker is falling behind and when something you're working on can wait. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is set aside your own task and lend a hand where it's needed most.

Final Thoughts

School nutrition is important work, and every employee has a reason to be proud of the part they play. But what makes a great team isn't just how well each person does their job. It's how well everyone works together.