Are you the kind of person who would sit back in a team and wait for others to do all the work when working on any given task? Well, this, according to experts is not advisable as everyone is expected to be an active participant regardless of the position you are holding in that particular team.

Francis Mwangi, an educator and human resource personnel believes that without participation in the team, the whole theory behind placing teams within an organisation makes no sense.

This is the reason why different organisations come up with group teams, as it’s important for the organisation when it comes to improving their productivity.

"By participating in any team, one should know that they are sharing their insights and knowledge as well as receiving feedback regardless of the position they might be holding,” he says.

According to him, this also assists the team in moving forward to achieve its goals.

Peter Minani, a youth mentor in Kigali says when one is active in any given team, it helps generate a circle of knowledge and lets each team member understand their role.

He notes that when working as a group, it means that one will always have an opportunity to learn from each other’s successes and failures. This he says works best if every member is active.

How to get engaged

Othaniel Nimbabazi, a youth leader and human-centred designer says in order to be able to take part and contribute to the group, everyone needs to come prepared.

For instance, he says that it’s as simple as letting members of your team know when and where the meeting is and what the meeting is about, that’s if you are among the leaders or organisers.

This he believes can help each and every one to be prepared as well as have any relevant materials ready.

"This also helps prevent wasting of valuable time when as a team, you have to catch up with other team members,” he says.

Another way of getting engaged and being active as a team member, Minani says is by trying to be helpful where you can.

He says that it’s essential to keep in mind that when working as a team, everyone is working toward the same goal, regardless of the assignment or the work that you have at hand.

"Because of this, it’s just important for the teammates to always offer assistance to one another. If someone is struggling to solve a problem it benefits the team to assist them,” he says.

Mwangi on the other hand points out that sharing openly is also important as far as getting involved in a group is concerned.

He explains that when team members share their knowledge and experience with the group, everyone benefits, noting that team members should speak up during meetings and participate in discussions as much as possible.

"Individuals shouldn’t have to worry about their ideas, in fact, all ideas should be shared with the group and this at the end ensures effective communication,” he says.

Also, he adds that keeping everyone informed helps to keep people on track and prevents unwanted surprises later on. Open discussion should be encouraged as it is a feature of productive teamwork.

Another way Minani says is by taking an opportunity to volunteer. He explains that it’s ideal for team members not only to wait for a task or project to be assigned to them, but also to take a step and volunteer. This shows that one is willing to work and set a good example for others.