​It may seem strange to say independence and initiative are important skills when everyone is talking about teamwork. However, think of it this way: Teams are made up of people that are working together to achieve a common goal. Each team member needs to take the initiative to fulfill their responsibilities.

You need to be able to plan how you are going to fulfill responsibilities that were assigned you as part of a team. Most of the time, this means close communication with other team members, but ultimately, you need to be able to determine:

• What needs to be done.
• How you are going to do it.
• When each task is going to be complete.
• What the potential roadblocks are.

Then, you need to be able to follow through and complete your tasks without someone monitoring your every move. That means you should:

• Pay attention to details and produce high-quality work in an ethical manner.
• Complete your tasks on time.
• Take initiative to help others as team priorities shift.
• Use problem-solving skills when you hit roadblocks.