
Patrick Lencioni’s The Ideal Team Player introduces a simple but powerful framework for evaluating and developing your team members. At its core are three key virtues: Humble, Hungry, and Smart. These qualities dramatically influence how well your team functions day to day—and how effectively your organization scales.
Humble team players put the organization first. They don’t chase individual glory; instead, they focus on collective wins. A humble person actively listens, admits when they’re wrong, and celebrates others’ contributions. Lencioni labels a person who is not humble the Skillful Politician.
Hungry players bring consistent energy and drive. They take responsibility, embrace new
challenges, and don’t need external reminders to push forward. Instead of doing just enough,
they seek ways to add more value. Lencioni names the person who is not hungry a Loveable
Slacker.
Smart isn’t about raw IQ. It’s about emotional intelligence—knowing how to interact with
others gently and productively. Smart team members read the room, communicate clearly, and
help maintain a positive, trusting environment. Smart people value the relationship over fixing
the problem or being right. Lencioni tags the person who is not smart as an Accidental Mess-
maker.
Lencioni said, “Great leaders relentlessly remind their people of how to correct their behavior.”
And the leader must go first – allowing others to correct their behavior. Are you a leader who
possesses and demonstrates the Humble, Hungry, and Smart traits? Or, do others think of you
as a skillful politician, loveable slacker, or accidental mess-maker? And do you care enough to
change?
Do you have Ideal Team Players? Are you an Ideal Team Player? Let’s talk:
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