It's never too late to become a better teammate

Recently, McKenzie Ketron, a member of the BRIDGE team, wrote a column about leadership. It prompted me to reflect on who and what has influenced my own life journey. It began at home. I was raised by parents who brought up seven children — six brothers and me, and no sisters. In that house, we learned the value of family, faith, hard work, discipline, and how to live with six other points of view. What I remember most is that our home was peaceful. Not quiet (how could it be with that many boys constantly finding ways to entertain themselves, often at the expense of a sibling or six) but peaceful. From an early age, my brothers and I learned the importance of showing up, doing what was asked (and a little more), and always respecting others. Good things tend to follow when you live that way. As we got older and entered the workforce, respecting others evolved to include coworkers, customers and supervisors. The proof is in the results. My brothers have gone on to make meaningful contributions in their careers — as a multistate manager for a national company, a fleet manager overseeing all of North America, a professional CDL driver, an assistant police chief in a city of 250,000 residents, an EMS technician, and a pastor. None of that happened by accident. It was the result of consistent discipline, encouragement and the reinforcement of treating everyone around you with respect. I learned that lesson clearly one night when I fouled out of a game and slammed back into my chair. My father was sitting across the floor where I could see him, and when he uncrossed his arms, pointed at me, and shook his head "no," I knew I had crossed a line. He never said a word afterward. He didn't need to. His disappointment was correction enough. From that moment on, I never drew attention to myself at the expense of the team again. My parents were intentional about surrounding us with good influences, both inside and outside the home. One of those influences was a coach who cared more about who I would become after sports than how good I was as an athlete. True teamwork begins when coaches are honest in evaluating skills and abilities. I understood my contribution, knew it was valued, and received the playing time I earned. One quote from my high school basketball coach, Don Bell, has stayed with me: "Treat the ball boy the same as the star athlete, because they'll both have to work a job and support a family." My parents were not afraid to let my brothers or me fail, but quitting was never an option. They didn't yell from the stands or challenge coaches. They showed up to support their kids, regardless of playing time or recognition. I still remember my mother approaching my high school basketball coach and asking, half-jokingly, if I could sit on a cleaner metal chair, so she wouldn't have to wash my uniform. For the first three years of high school, I spent most games on the bench — and that's where I belonged. My twin brother started because he practiced more in the offseason. My mother wasn't being unkind; she was reinforcing accountability and trust in the coach's decisions. So, let me ask you this: Do you know the name of the person on your team or in your workplace who does the unseen, underappreciated work? Do they know you by title or reputation — or because you take the time to acknowledge their contribution? It's never too late to become a better teammate. Sometimes it takes just a moment of kindness or gratitude to brighten someone's day, change the trajectory of a company, or strengthen a community. For a team to be great, every player (not just the starters) must prepare for every game. Each game brings different challenges and opportunities, often requiring a different game plan. Sometimes success means someone else starts the game or carries the ball because their skill set best fits the moment. The same is true in our businesses, organizations and communities across the region. Teamwork isn't always easy, but it always creates success. So, the question remains: What kind of teammate or coach are you? In honor of my parents Kyle and Sonia Rose and in memory of the best coach ever — Don Bell. John Rose is executive director of BRIDGE Regional Economic Development.