How do I work with others?
Learning objective: Demonstrate effective communication skills and teamwork strategies on the job.
Takeaway
Teamwork takes communication. Every workplace depends on people knowing each other’s roles, checking in often, and staying open to feedback. The best teammates bring clear communication, patience, and a professional attitude. Those qualities matter in every job, at every level.
Full video description: https://tinyurl.com/akekhjky
Communication is the foundation
Working with others starts with communication. Sharing information, listening to others, and making sure that everyone understands what’s happening will make you a valued coworker. This may seem simple to you, but it can become tough quickly in busy workplaces where people are moving fast and assuming everyone’s on the same page.
As deaf people, it’s easy for us to feel anxious about that challenge. But you already know how important it is to communicate clearly. You’ve been working on that skill your whole life and it’ll help you on the job.
Even if your job seems independent, you’ll almost always have a team. People will share deadlines with you, review your work, and depend on your work to get theirs done. The same will be true for you. Getting good at working with others is how work gets done.
Communicate your needs and preferences
When you’re new to a job, it helps to be direct about how you communicate best and the accommodations you need to do your job well. You don’t have to share everything with your team, only the basics. Most coworkers want to include you and they won’t always know how, especially if they have not worked with deaf people before.
Keep it simple and be confident in communicating your needs and preferences, like asking them to get your attention with a tap on your shoulder instead of yelling your name, making sure that they turn around to face you when they speak, or telling them to text you instead of calling you. Most people will appreciate this and will adjust their behavior for you.
Job interviews are your first opportunity to ask about accommodations. Once you start your job, you’ll have another chance to request accommodations. Remember that accommodations are how you can do your job well and become a valued coworker in the process. If you aren’t sure what to ask for, here’s an excellent resource from National Deaf Center about accommodations.
Quick tips
Ask your supervisor about software that your team may be using to coordinate with each other, like project management tools or group chats, and make sure you connect to it as soon as possible. That will be where most of the workplace communication happens, which is great for deaf people! Also, make sure to set up a way to record meetings and/or notes. When in doubt, always send a follow-up message.
If you’re not sure what to do, it’s okay to ask your supervisor. Doing this is a sign of good professional behavior. Most supervisors will be happy with team members who check in and make sure they understand what they need to do, instead of guessing and getting it wrong.
Full video description: https://tinyurl.com/y4c85xta
What makes someone a strong team player
Showing up every day with good habits will go a long way in making you a respected coworker. Here are some habits that matter:
Know your role and others’ roles. The more you and your team understand and practice this, the easier it will be to work together without annoying each other or missing important deadlines.
Check in often. Don’t wait until something goes wrong. A quick message, like “Hey, is this what you needed?” builds trust and catches problems early.
Be flexible and open-minded. Things will not always go as planned. Great team players will adapt quickly instead of getting stuck on one way to do it.
Ask for feedback. This will show that you care about doing good work. Make sure to keep it simple by asking, “Is there anything that I could’ve done differently?” and accept the feedback with an open mind.
Key Question
Deafverse Tip
Check 'em Out
- Patty’s Story: Internship — a community member shares her internship experience
- DPAN.tv: Real People – Matthew Whitfield the Chef — see a deaf chef navigate a professional kitchen
- National Deaf Center: Know Your Rights! — learn about the laws protecting your rights to accommodations
- National Deaf Center: Access and Accommodations — learn about the accommodations that you can ask for
Now it’s time to team up with Milo and see what you can do! Go to deafverse.com and fend off the Kraken!
How do I tell my coworkers about my deafness without making it a big deal?
Keep it simple and confident. You don’t need to explain your whole history, just the part that affects how you work together. Something like: “Hey, I’m deaf, so getting my attention with a tap on my shoulder works better than yelling out my name” is short, clear, and easy for someone to remember. Most people will appreciate the heads-up and will follow your lead.
What if my co-workers keep forgetting to communicate in ways that work for me?
Remember that it takes time for people to change their habits. Reminding them gently without judgment works most of the time. Something like, “Hey, I missed that, can you text me that?” is good, light feedback. However, if the same person keeps forgetting or they are giving you a hard time, and it’s impacting your ability to do your job, then it’s time to talk with your supervisor or HR contact.
I’m usually shy about speaking up in team meetings. What can I do?
You don’t have to speak up in every meeting to be a strong team player. Written contributions, like follow-up emails, notes, comments in shared documents, are just as valuable. If you have something to say in a meeting and the timing feels hard to navigate, try sending it in the group chat or submitting a question before the meeting starts.
Is it my job to educate my coworkers about deaf culture?
No, you’re not required to teach anyone. You can share what helps you communicate better at work and limit the conversation to that. If you feel comfortable sharing more about yourself or deaf culture, that’s great. But your main responsibility at your job is to do your job well. If you feel that your team needs more disability awareness, go ahead and suggest it to HR or management.
For Teachers
Students will demonstrate effective communication and teamwork strategies, including how to introduce their communication needs to their coworkers in a professional manner.
- Think of a time you worked on a group project. What made it go well or poorly?
- How would you explain your communication needs to a new coworker?
- What are some barriers deaf people might face when working with hearing teammates? What could help?
- What does it mean to “take initiative” at work? Can you give an example?
Team Communication Role Play
Divide students into small groups. Give each group a simple workplace scenario (e.g., planning a company event, responding to a customer complaint, meeting a project deadline). Ask them to:
- Assign roles within the team (project lead, note-taker, etc.).
- Complete the task communicating only in writing without signing or speaking.
- Debrief: What was harder? What was easier? What did you notice about how you communicated?
- Discuss: How might this activity feel different for a deaf team member versus a hearing one?
- IDEA Transition: Employment skills; self-determination and self-advocacy in workplace settings
- CEC Standards: Interpersonal communication; collaborative skills for inclusive environments
- Best use in IEP cycle: Grades 10-12, work-based learning preparation or pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS)
