Whether you are climbing the corporate ladder, working as an environmental service worker, cooking for a small restaurant, playing on a sports team, leadership skills are a must have.
There are countless viewpoints about leadership. Regardless of your job title, there are always opportunities to lead. There are also assumptions that everyone wants to lead or be a leader. Some are very satisfied clocking in and clocking out. Whether you are in a leadership role or are satisfied with the 9-5, there are qualities that an ideal team player must possess. Without them, the team and it’s leader are bound to struggle and all too often, fail miserably.
Leadership doesn’t have a ceiling, it’s an ongoing process of betterment. Betterment may also include improving job skills. Betterment isn’t just about me, it’s about the influence and support I can offer others that only exist through improving myself. Healthy teams also possess a process of betterment.
Team development and betterment is a compilation of goals. We can use professional football as an example. Winning the superbowl is one goal, but grooming new players in preparation for years to come is another goal. The process forward doesn’t stop because a team makes it to the Superbowl, there is a constant process moving forward for many years to come.
Several years ago, I was developing a new program pertaining to team engagement. If you Google team building and/or leadership, you will discover thousands of resources. I have facilitated many team building and leadership development workshops and programs over the years, however I was looking for some new material.
I stumbled onto the book, “The Ideal Team Player”. What truly captured my attention was the author, Pat Lencioni who I was familiar with from his previous book, The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team. As I started to read, I was immediately interested in it’s content as there was a formula to follow. I’m a sucker for a good formula. I then searched YouTube in hopes of finding something to watch from Pat pertaining to his book. I discovered his Ted Talk which provided a powerful snapshot of his formula.
Humble, Hungry & Smart as an Ideal Team Player:
What does humble look like for an ideal team player? They lack excessive ego or concerns about status. Humble people are quick to point out the contributions of others and slow to seek attention for their own. They share credit, emphasize team over self and define success collectively rather than individually.
What does hungry look like for an ideal team player? Ideal team players are hungry. They are always looking for more. More things to do. More to learn. More responsibility to take on. Hungry people almost never have to be pushed by a manager to work harder, because they are self-motivated and diligent. They are constantly thinking about the next step and the next opportunity.
What does smart look like for an ideal team player? Ideal team players are smart. They have common sense about people. Smart people tend to know what is happening in a group situation and how to deal with others in the most effective way. They have good judgment and intuition around the subtleties of group dynamics and the impact of their words and actions.
The Virtues:
Each of these can be looked at these as virtues.
Humble
The first and most important virtue of an ideal team player is humility. A humble employee is someone who is more concerned with the success of the team than with getting credit for his or her contributions. People who lack humility in a significant way, the ones who demand a disproportionate amount of attention, are dangerous for a team. Having said that, humble team players are not afraid to honestly acknowledge the skills and talents that they bring to the team, though never in a proud or boastful way.
Hungry
The next virtue of an ideal team player is hunger, the desire to work hard and do whatever is necessary to help the team succeed. Hungry employees almost never have to be pushed by a manager to work harder because they are self- motivated and diligent. They volunteer to fill gaps, take on more responsibilities and are eagerly looking around corners for new ways to contribute to the team.
Smart
The final virtue of a team player is not about being intelligent, but rather about being wise in how to deal with people. Smart employees understand the nuances of team dynamics, and know how their words and actions impact others. Their good
judgment and intuition help them deal with others in the most effective way.
In Conclusion:
Growth as a team player and as a leader requires a process of looking inward. The ideal team player is a blend of qualities that require emotional intelligence, willingness and commitment to growth. The three qualities described through The Ideal Team Player are essential for personal, professional and team growth. Anyone desiring growth should commit time, effort and often financial resources. Where does this process begin? Read books, listen to podcasts, hire a coach or therapist. Do something and start today! Use the HHS formula and honesty explore yourself and your team and determine what needs to happen. Need a neutral opinion? Call me! 440-212-4987.