Author and leadership consultant Patrick Lencioni talks about The Ideal Team Player in his latest book. The Ideal Team Player lays out what a leader should look for in new employees.
Ideal Team Players have three traits you need to consider. These team members need to be hungry, humble, and smart.
Hungry means they’re looking for more. These team players are looking for more responsibility, things to do, and ways to improve the organization. Humble means they leave their ego at the door. They don’t believe they’re better than anyone else on the team. Smart means they know how to deal with people. These smart team players can assess a group situation and know how to deal with the interpersonal dynamics going on within the group.
When you combine hungry, humble, and smart you have an amazing addition to your team… if that’s the culture you’ve created. Hungry, humble, and smart team members are able to seek out new work, be unconcerned about their status, and able to deal with a multitude of people. They’re great.
Yet you still have work to do even after hiring hungry, humble, and smart people. YOU have to create an environment where these ideal team players will flourish. And then you have to attract more of these team players.
So, what does it take to create an environment that attracts ideal team players? Let’s take a look at that below.
How To Create An Environment That Attracts Ideal Team Players
Get rid of your ego:
If you want ideal team players, those without egos, you have to get rid of your ego. Stop being concerned about who gets credit. Or how you’re viewed.
Ideal team players want to be involved in organizations whose cultures decrease the value of ego and increase the value of hard work and teams.
Start working towards creating a culture of teamwork and camaraderie. Work to create a workplace where the ego has been checked at the door and people are working together to make things better.
Work hard:
Leaders need to be some of the hardest working people in an organization. Whether this is in generating new ideas, bringing in new business leads, or pitching in when help is needed. Environments that attract ideal team players are environments where the leader leads through hard work.
The leader is always looking for the next steps to take to build a world-class business. They’re always looking for more work and how to get the work done.
Be a hard-working leader.
Welcome diverse opinions and people:
People come in a variety of shapes and forms. They’re republicans and democrats. They are believers and unbelievers. They’re married, divorced, or single.
Because of the differences in their life experiences, people bring in a wide variety of opinions. Welcome these opinions. Be okay with people sharing different opinions.
It’s okay. The world isn’t homogeneous. But you can help your workplace become a mixing pot of ideas that are welcomed by all.
Encourage your team members to work together despite their differences. Show them different people can work together. You don’t have to be separate because you’ve lived a different life.
Retrain or get rid of non-ideal team players:
Don’t forget it’s hard to attract ideal team players when you have a crew of people who don’t extol the virtues of ideal team players. Having people on your team that goes against the beliefs of the power of the three virtues of hungry, humble, and smart will repel those who believe in them.
Watch out for those who are not hungry, humble, or smart in your organization. When you notice these people, talk with them. Teach them the importance of being an ideal team player. Show them how these virtues help the organization.
One of two things will happen. You’ll inspire them to pick up the virtues and they’ll become an ideal team player. Or you’ll scare them away. They’ll know you’re serious about being hungry, humble, and smart and they’ll choose to leave your organization.
You can take the lead and encourage an environment that attracts ideal players by exemplifying and encouraging the behaviors of an ideal player. The culture and climate of an organization come from the top. And you’re the one steering the ship.
You get what you put out. If you want to attract ideal team players, you have to be an ideal team player.
