🧭 The Ideal Team Player Defined

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• Patrick Lencioni on Team Players

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The Ideal Team Player Defined

Today, we are going to review Patrick Lencioni’s landmark book, The Ideal Team Player. In the book, he categorizes the three most important attributes of a team player: (1) Humble (2) Hungry, and (3) Smart.

He argues in the book that it’s not having one of these attributes, but having all three attributes that makes you a team player. Today, we will talk about what they are, why they matter, and how to see them in your team.

Humble - Humility is a cornerstone of effective teamwork. A humble team player doesn’t think less of themselves, but rather thinks of themselves less.

Jay Wright said, "If you're not humble, it's hard to be coached. If you can't be coached, it's hard to get better." You need humility to work with others and be part of a team. It means learning from others, being open to feedback, and admitting you don’t know. In order to see humility in your team members, ask yourself:

• Do they recognize and appreciate the contributions of their teammates?

• Do they admit mistakes when they were wrong?

• Do they actively seek feedback and are open to constructive criticism?

Hungry - It means having a strong work ethic, a growth-mindset, and an unrelenting desire to achieve more. It’s the mindset of excellence and giving to the team. A hungry team player is always looking for ways to contribute, improve, and excel. They are self-motivated and driven by a genuine passion for their work and the team's mission. In order to see hunger in your team members, ask yourself:

• Do they have a proactive attitude? Do they take initiative and tackle challenges without needing to be prompted?

• Are they constantly seeking opportunities for personal and professional growth?

• Are they willing to put in the extra effort to ensure the success of the team?

Smart - Being smart isn’t about just being intelligent on topics, but also about being emotionally intelligent and aware of how one’s actions impact others. A smart team player has strong interpersonal skills; they can read social cues, and can navigate complex team dynamics effectively. They know the importance of effective communication and building relationships. Ways to gauge this attribute in your team members involves asking the following:

• Can they effectively communicative with others?

• Do they know how to problem solve with others as part of a team?

• Do they have the ability to understand their own emotions and those of their team members?

• Are they able to build and maintain strong relationships within a team?

The Importance of All Three Attributes - A team member who embodies all three virtues is likely to be a strong, cohesive force within any team. The goal is to find team members that have all three attributes because when you are lacking one, you can undermine the effectiveness and cohesion of the entire team. For example, a team member who is hungry and smart, but lacks humility may come off as arrogant. Conversely, someone who is humble and smart but not hungry might underperform.

So how can you implement this within your team?

1. Communicate and emphasize the values - Make humility, hunger, and being smart core values within your team's culture. Reinforce these values through company policies, communication, and behavior. Recognize and reward behaviors that exemplify these attributes. By embedding these values, you reinforce their significance and encourage everyone to embody them.

2. Lead by example - Model the behaviors you want to see in your team. People follow what they see, not what you say. Be modeling these behaviors, you set the tone and the standard for the rest of the team to follow.

3. Set up training and development for those values - Implement a 360-degree feedback system where team members can evaluate each other on these three attributes. This helps in identifying strengths and areas for improvement. Then, offer regular training and mentor sessions focused on these three core values.

4. Bring in people that align with those values - When bringing in new people to the team, look for people that exemplify this standard. Ask about past teamwork experiences, challenges they have overcome, and how they handle feedback. Not only ask the questions, but look for the behaviors when they aren’t watching.

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