The Ideal Team Player MP3 CD – Unabridged, September 6, 2016

The Ideal Team Player starts as a fable and makes the beginning very real and insightful. After the fable, Lencioni dives into the details that make up the ideal team player - hungry, humble and smart.For any organization to have a successful culture, their important virtues need to be clearly defined and of upmost importance in the hiring process and in the refining process of their current employees. Lencioni argues that hungry, humble and smart are the three keys for building a successful team and that each member MUST possess these three traits.1. Hungry - these are people who always look for more and rarely have to be pushed to work harder. Healthy hunger is a manageable and sustainable commitment to doing a job well and going above and beyond when it is truly required. These employees finish their tasks and look for ways to support the rest of the team or look for ways to grow. *Be aware - in an interview - candidates can project a false hunger2. Humility - this is the single greatest and most indispensable attribute of being a team player. Too many leaders, who value teamwork, tolerate arrogant employees - not understanding the effect it has on the rest of the team.There are Two types of People who Lack Humility:1. Overtly arrogant - they boast and soak up attention - these are easy to spot2. Those who lack self confidence - they are generous and positive with others but they discount their own talents and contributions. They are mistakenly seen as humble - their lack of understanding of their own worth is a violation of humility. They hurt teams by not advocating for their opinion or not calling out issues. *Insecurity is what both types have in common*C.S. Lewis "Humilty isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less"3. Smart - NOT intelligence - this is common sense about people. They ask good questions, listen to others, stay engaged in conversations intentlypg. 166-173 warns us of the different types of people. DO NOT hire or keep someone who lacks all of these characteristics or only has 1 of them. IF they have 2 of the 3, having humble and hungry is the least dangerous to a team as they can take feedback well and often want to improve*Be careful of what he calls the "skillful politician" who has hungry and smart - they can ruin a team and we have all worked with someone who speaks a good game but is only in it for themselves*Be careful how you label people as well. These traits don't have to be equally strong, but they all need to be relatively strong to be an ideal team player. If they are severely lacking in one area, that is of concernpg. 174-186 discusses how to apply this to the interview process and offers good questions to use to assess the humble, hungry, smart. *Key point - BEFORE making an offer to a candidate assure them how absolutely committed you are to these virtues and anyone who does not share them would be miserable working here but if they do share them, it will be a fantastic fit. As he says "many people will try to get a job even if they don't fit the company's stated values, but very few will do so if they know they're going to be held accountable, day in and day out, for behavior that violates the values".pg. 187-191 is assessing your current team to either make corrections or let people go. "Too often, leaders know that an employee really doesn't belong and would be better elsewhere, and they fail to act because they lack couragepg. 195-206 discusses how to develop these attributes.1. Humility - A leader should always model humility, even if the manager struggles, admit it and continue to work on it. This will encourage the others to do the same. A lack of humility is always related to an insecurity and for most, is rooted in a childhood or family issue that took place well before their first day on the job. So, helping an employee IDENTIFY the root cause and then putting them through EXPOSURE by requiring them to "act" humble (complimenting others, admitting mistakes, etc...) can have a major impact2. Hunger - this is often hard to change. First and most important step is finding a way to connect them to the importance of the work they are doing. Then set clear behavioral expectations for them and hold them accountable to it. MORE THAN THAT - tell them that you expect them to help their colleagues do what needs to be done once their work is completed, including taking on additional responsibilities, working more hours (if possible), or doing additional research until problems are solved3. Smart - the key to developing people smarts is to make it clear, to everyone involved, that a deficiency in this area is not about intention. Then, if someone is rude or insensitive, QUICKLY and LOVINGLY correct and encourage them. Remember, their intentions are not bad they are often just unawarepg. 207-211 discusses how to embed these into a culture.1. Be Explicit and Bold - if you believe it is important, come right out and say so2. Catch and Revere - constantly be on the lookout for any displays of these virtues and when you see them, hold them up as examples for everyone to see. *"What we are failing to realize is that the point of praise is not only to reinforce the behavior in that employee, but also to reinforce it in everyone else"3. Detect and Address - When you see a behavior that violates the values, take the time to let the violator know he is out of line, and not just in egregious behaviorsOverall, this book offers an incredible and thorough explanation of the importance of having ideal team players and the ways to find, train and refine them. This is a great read for anyone who is hiring, has employees, is an employee, or just about anyone

I recently finished reading "The Ideal Team Player," and I have to say, it's a game-changer for anyone looking to understand what truly makes a successful team tick. Lencioni's insights into the three essential virtues - humility, hunger, and people smarts - are both profound and practical.What I appreciated most about the book is how relatable and applicable the concepts are. Lencioni uses real-world examples and anecdotes to illustrate his points, making it easy to grasp the importance of each virtue and how they interplay within a team dynamic.Moreover, the actionable advice provided for recognizing and cultivating these virtues in oneself and others is invaluable. Whether you're a team leader striving to build a cohesive and high-performing team or an individual looking to excel in a collaborative environment, this book offers actionable strategies to help you succeed.One minor critique I have is that some sections felt a bit repetitive, but overall, the clarity and simplicity of Lencioni's writing style make it a compelling read.

Lencioni struggles with matching "Five Dysfunctions of a Team." This book was so good, that every other book is a disappointment. Not that the books are bad, rather, they just do not match that great text on teams. This book attempts to continue that conversation about developing a strong team, and how to be part of a strong team. The book is a good read, always engaging, and practical and helpful. When you read one of the author's text, you are always left with some actionable thoughts and behaviors. He does not overwhelm you with information, but creates a framework so that you can understand easily. The major focus of the book is finding and being people who are hungry (passionate about the goal), smart (people who are good with people), and humble (willing to learn and open to feedback). What I like about this model is that it does work. When you look for people to work with, look for these qualities. Since it is a simple process, you are more likely to find success within it. Instead of some of the complex ways we look for talent, this process is so easy that you will get it right more often. It is a good leadership book, and perhaps one that leadership should study together.

Excellent read for anyone in management.

Really practical and simple to understand. It was easy for me to find where I’m lacking in each area and how I can improve.

Mr. Lencioni writes simple, but with the depth of his experience. Connecting the dots of our human nature, flaws and abilities to grow and develop, he leads us through a story that teaches basic principles of sociability and communal living. Great for work, excellent for personal life.