Are you a net positive team player?
Design jobs would be a whole lot more simple if all it took for a successful design career was delivering killer design deliverables.
There’s way more to it than that.
All designers are part of a team. Even if you’re a freelancer, you’r still a member of the team that you’re freelancing for, at least in some capacity.
One of the main things that determine your success in design is your ability to work with others.
So here’s the question: Are you a net positive team member to the team culture and morale?
Net negative team members take more morale away from the team than they add. These team members are often critical. They often have something to complain about and rarely seam satisfied with their workplace, management, or project stakeholders. They cast judgement on others and always seem to think they know best.
On the job, net negatives are less likely to get a raise or promotion. Sure, they can make some progress in their career, but is it typically short-lived, and never takes the designer as far as they would go if they were a net positive team member.
The net positive team members add more value and energy to the team morale than they take. Their positive energy gives meetings and workshops a boost when they’re involved. Even though their boss or project stakeholders aren’t perfect either, net positive team members are appreciative of their job/project, and seek to actively be part of the solution. They’re open to other people’s ideas, and freely admit that they don’t have all of the answers.
Which are you?
If you find yourself on the net negative side, the good news is you can change. Nobody has to stay there. It comes down to the small choices we make on a daily basis.