When is the last time you participated as a team member instead of leading your team?

Our reader poll today asks: When is the last time you participated as a team member instead of leading your team?

• I’m acting as a team member right now: 67.46%
• I’ve done it within the past month: 16.10%
• I’ve done it within the past year: 10.96%
• I’ve never stepped out of the leader role and into a team member role: 5.48%

Roll up the sleeves. Getting out of the leader role and into the team member role has many benefits. It brings you closer to your people, helps you understand and appreciate the work they do and it can be rewarding. If it’s been a while since you’ve worked side by side with the team, make a point of scheduling time to do so. Put reminders on your calendar so it happens more frequently than a few times a year. Stepping out of the leader role is easier to do than you might think.

Do you agree with these poll results? Let us know in the comments below!

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 210,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.