(2 minute read)
While few of us will (fortunately) never experience a battlefront, where we are relying on fellow soldiers who are in-the-trenches beside us, most of us can recall a sporting team-mate, or working colleague who turned-up when needed and ‘had our backs’ in moments where it was required.
So, what are the magical ingredients of the ideal team member?
Humble – Nominated as the most critical element to key team players. As C.S. Lewis stated, ‘Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking about yourself less.’ It’s a trait that sees them thinking more about the welfare of others, and never self-promoting.
Hungry – A great team member has a strong work ethic. They’re not content doing the bare minimum. They model a hunger for getting better and doing better for the business, team and the people around them.
Smart – This isn’t ‘book-smart’ type intelligence. It’s more emotional and situational awareness, and an astute awareness of the dynamic interactions between people and groups.
These 3 key ingredients of ideal team players were identified and promoted by management consultant and best-selling author, Pat Lencioni (5 Dysfunctions of a Team).
The 3 traits have been embedded into many Fortune 500 organisations in either their recruiting and onboarding practices, or in their coaching and development strategies.
Why It Matters
- Builds Stronger Teams: Organisations use this model to recruit, develop, and assess employees for better teamwork.
- Addresses Common Pitfalls: It helps identify individuals who might excel in one area but undermine the team by lacking the others (e.g., Humble & smart, but lacking hunger – sometimes known as the lovable slacker).
- Differentiates ‘Smart’: Being smart isn’t about IQ, but more about practical and social intelligence and intuition in navigating human interaction.
Think of your ideal team member, and consider which of these 3 traits they possess, and to what extent. Then, think about how you can develop these traits further to be the ideal team player for your team.