9 ways of becoming an asset to your team (with examples)

Updated 29 January 2023

Being an asset means that you have a positive impact on the people around you. A person who is an asset brings value to the workplace in multiple ways, such as through their knowledge, skills or personality. If you understand how to be an asset, you can inspire those around you and may be put into consideration for promotions more frequently. In this article, we look at how you can become an asset to your team, including listing various tips on developing essential traits and skills.

What does being an asset mean?

Being an asset to your team means that you're a resource that other members of your team can rely on. This means that you're reliable and consistent, have good communication skills and can complete tasks independently. Being an asset also means that you can work well with others, especially if they have different strengths or weaknesses than yours. You may also be an asset if you manage projects well and help others work more efficiently together.

Tips for becoming an asset to your team

Here are nine ways that you can become an asset to your team:

Exude passion

Passion is a quality of most people who are essential to their team, as it helps motivate themselves and those around them. Many of these people work overtime or exceed project outlines to accomplish their goals. You may also feel an extra sense of satisfaction from what you do, a feeling that can increase your ambition even further.

This trait may also help you during challenging times. When you're passionate about what you do, you can stay motivated and work hard even when the situation may bring stress. Being passionate helps to create quality results and models how your team can improve their work in a similar way.

Display confidence

Displaying confidence in the workplace can help you to be a team asset. It conveys a sense of self-assurance and trustworthiness. You can then build stronger relationships with coworkers, supervisors and clients. It also helps make you more effective at your job because it gives you confidence in your abilities and makes it easier to communicate with others. If you're confident in yourself and your skills, then you can be more comfortable talking about them with others and sharing them when necessary.

Pursue your ambitions

Ambition may help you accomplish a lot more at work, such as getting a promotion. When you're ambitious, it shows that you work hard and exceed expectations. This is great for your career because it means that your seniors trust that they can rely on you when they require something done quickly or at a high level of quality. If you have a reputation for being ambitious, then your colleagues are more likely to seek out your opinion and ideas when they want them.

Have extra experience

Having extra experience is an asset in the workplace because it allows you to gain a more well-rounded perspective on the project at hand. You identify issues that others might not notice and can look at problems from multiple angles, which can help you find solutions for your team. You can use that experience to help guide you in your current job and advise and support other members of your team who may not have as much experience.

Remain flexible

Being flexible helps you to be a team player and shows you're an asset to a project. It shows that you can adapt to change and handle small details of your plan or idea. The ability to be flexible means that you can be ready for anything your team requires from you. You can also help the people around you by staying flexible when they require help with something that's outside of your job description.

Practise innovative thinking

When you practice innovative thinking, you learn how to identify and solve problems in new ways. This skill allows for more efficient problem-solving and decision-making in your workplace. It also makes it easier for you to anticipate what your team requires before they even ask for it, which contributes directly to the success of your team's overall mission.

Network with others

Networking is influential in some industries and can help you to advance your career. Networking isn't just about meeting new people. It's also about building relationships with those who are already in your field. There are many ways to engage with a company's professional organisations, such as attending meetings and events, going on trips or volunteering for projects.

If you want to explore new opportunities within the company, join committees or boards so that you can build relationships with managers and executives. As people start to remember you and get to know your talents and skills, they may contact you later for a project or job offer.

Have attention to detail

Attention to detail is a trait that can make you a reliable team member. Having attention to detail means that you notice the nuances that can make a project or event a success. When you have attention to detail, you observe when things not optimal and improve upon them.

Being able to recognise when something isn't right and taking action on it before it becomes a problem helps your team run more smoothly and efficiently. By pointing out problems before they happen, you can save time and money on larger errors later. You can also build a pattern of preventing mistakes from happening in the first place.

Be punctual

Being punctual signals that you're reliable and that you take your responsibilities seriously. Punctuality is also an indication of how well you manage your time, which can be a useful skill for any employee to have. Being punctual with meetings or calls shows that you're serious about the work you do and that you care about being a valuable member of the team. This can make it easier for your colleagues to trust you and rely on you when they require help with something.

3 examples of being a team asset

Here are three examples of how your team may consider you an asset:

Helping others with their workload

A strong technique that can ensure colleagues and managers view you as an asset is by helping others with their workload. This demonstrates that you have dedication towards making sure the team succeeds and it makes you a valuable person to them. It also shows that you strive to impress your employer, which can result in favour.

Actively learning new skills

Active learning is a key technical skill in your industry that can help you become an asset to any team because it shows that you constantly strive to get better at your job. When you want to keep learning new things and developing new skills, you gain a greater understanding of the field in which you work and show the people around you that they can rely on your ability to learn new things quickly. It also shows you're open-minded and enjoy discovering specialities.

Asking for feedback

Asking for feedback is a great way to show that you're an asset. When you ask for feedback, you receive important information about how to improve and show your manager and colleagues that you apply effort. You demonstrate that you have a commitment to meeting the goals set out by the organisation and that you also care about learning how to do so more effectively.