Skills for Success

What is Teamwork?

Teamwork is defined in Webster's New World Dictionary as "a joint action by a group of people, in which each person subordinates his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group." This does not mean that the individual is no longer important; however, it does mean that effective and efficient teamwork goes beyond individual accomplishments. The most effective teamwork is produced when all the individuals involved harmonize their contributions and work towards a common goal.

Time management is a key to successfully balancing all of the activities that are a part of your life. This is a skill that only becomes more valuable as you get older and have increasing levels of responsibility, more activities to participate in, and a career that translates your time into money. Still, it is never too early to begin managing your time wisely. Just think of the benefits - among others, doing more in less time (by getting organized), taking care of tasks before the last minute (beating procrastination), and making sure that the things that are a big deal to you get done (prioritizing), among others.

Going to school, doing homework, working after school, completing college applications, joining clubs, doing chores, helping parents, and watching siblings are just a few of the things that many teens have to do everyday. With all this and more going on in your life, it is no surprise that you may feel stressed from time to time. In fact, 39% of American teens report feeling stress during a normal day (Fitzgerald, 2004).