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I have this issue at work too, I do my share, and let the pieces fall where they man. I make sure to tell the boss my contribution to the project. Since I'm not the team lead I can't really get on anyone.
That said I can't believe how incredibly lazy and arrogant my coworkers are. They complain about working, they complain about not working, then somehow magically think they are entitled to jobs that are above this one (as this is beneath them). As far as i am concerned, they haven't graduated to cashier at McDs yet.
I don't think it's as cut and dry as the one who does all the work is "the amazing one" and the others are just "evil fools that should be fired."
We don't know if the OP expresses value to her team-mates. Did she set an agenda? Is she approachable? If she was a perfectionist-control-freak about the project then it is possible her team mates are being passive-aggressive in response. Or her team-mates are busy doing other tasks and projects. Or her team-mates are going through medical, psychological, or family problems.
Probably some jobs require team work but sometimes middle management likes to apply the concept where it doesn't fit. Sometimes it should be about the individual - if everyone does his or her work then things will run fine.
Sometimes "teamwork" is just a management crutch because no one knows how to manage and figure that if the strong employees would do everything for the slackers everything will be great - or - because the managers don't want to manage and so by telling the "team" to take care of each other, the managers won't have to take care of the problems.
At any rate, teamwork requires everyone be playing his role, including the managers who should make sure of that. If a control freak is taking over and the rest are becoming passive-aggressive, that's the fault of management for letting that happen.
- Talk to everyone like they are your really good friends.
- Set an agenda.
- Spell out the details.
- Set deadlines.
- Send out progress reminders by email. ie: "Hey I am seeing how everyone is doing. Remember the work is due on this date. Thank you. Call me if you have any concerns."
- Make sure everyone knows how valuable they and their work are to you.
- Make sure you never belittle any of your peers in public or in private.
- If someone needs to elaborate or make corrections make sure you tell them in a detailed manner. "If you could elaborate more on this it would clear up any loose ends. Then we will be finished and ready to turn it in. Thank you."
- Do not try to punish any of your team mates by having them ostracized. I guarantee you, that it will backfire in your face.
Those are great tips -- but they won't work in a poorly managed workplace. For one if you do those in some places, someone higher up will think you're taking over, trying to show them up. And your peers will run and tattle on you saying you're not the boss so you shouldn't be emailing them stuff like that. Or your peers could decide you are taking over and decide it's time to get the boss to realize that and squash you down.
Now in a good workplace where team leaders are given some authority and the team concept isn't just a way for the boss to excuse himself from any responsibility or that strong natural team leaders are developed and promoted, then that will certainly work.
If you prefer to work alone, can you discuss that with your boss? I think you would be happier to be yourself, rather than trying to be the team player that you don't desire to be.
Definitely stop doing other peoples work if you continue the job. It may seem like a petty move, but its a move that has to be made and enforced.
Step in and take over their work for them. Do their job plus yours. Management will notice, and pretty soon you will be promoted and not have to work with them any more.
That's a really bad attitude to have. Team-work doesn't involve you angrily sitting by saying "They'll get whats coming to them"
Why wouldn't they get what's coming to them?
If he refuses to do their work, should he (or would he) get the blame? I don't see how he can personally.
He should document his own tasks, and ensure they're complete and within deadline.
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