Book overview by Phil Hassman on Patrick Lencioni's The Ideal Team Player

1. The Ideal Team Player
Based on Patrick Lencioni’s Book The Ideal Team Player
Phil Hassman
Phil@carnivalgrp.com
Carnivalgrp.com

3. Overview
• Discussion: Where do we see
good and poor team players in
work/life? What makes a
good/poor team player?
• Opposite of Ideal Team Player
• The Three Virtues
• Different Combinations of Three
Virtues
• Developing the Virtues
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4. Discussion
• What are bad team experiences you’ve had?
• What was it like to be on those teams?
• What makes a poor team player?
• What makes you a poor team player?
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5. The Opposite of the Ideal
Team Player
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6. The Opposite of the Ideal Team Player
• Selfish
• Irresponsible
• Rude
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7. The Opposite of the Ideal Team Player
• Selfish
• Irresponsible
• Rude
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Overbearing
Arrogant
Self-Centered
Condescending
No motivation
Dismissive
Comfortable
Unaware of others
needs
Interpersonally
inappropriate
Makes others
uncomfortable

8. The Three Virtues of an Ideal
Team Player
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9. The Three Virtues
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Lacks excessive
ego
Quick to point
out contributions
of others
Common sense about people
Listen to others
Looking for more
Self-motivated
and diligent
Sustainable
commitment
Intuition of group dynamics
Ask good questions

10. Combination of the
Virtues
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11. Combinations of the Virtues
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12. Combinations of the Virtues
Humble Only: The Pawn
• Pleasant, Kindhearted,
Unassuming
• No great need to get things
done
• Few if any effective
relationships
• Often left out of
conversations and activities
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13. Combinations of the Virtues
Hungry Only: The Bulldozer
• Determined to get done but
focused on self interest with no
understanding of others
• Quick destroyers of teams
• Thrive in organizations/ teams
with premium on productivity
alone
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14. Combinations of the Virtues
Smart Only: The Charmer
• Entertaining and likable
for a while
• Little interest in long
term well being of others
or team
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15. Combinations of the Virtues
Humble + Hungry: The
Accidental Mess Maker
• Genuinely want to help and serve a
team
• Don’t take misappropriate credit
• Lack understanding of how works or
actions are received by others
• Colleagues get tired of cleaning up their
mess
• Usually take corrective feedback with
good humor
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16. Combinations of the Virtues
Humble + Smart: The Loveable
Slacker
• Not looking for undeserved
attention
• Adept at working with and caring
about colleagues
• Do just what asked for and rarely
seek more
• Limited passion for the work a
team is doing
• Need significant motivation and
oversight – drag team down
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17. Combinations of the Virtues
Hungry + Smart: The Skillful
Politician
• Cleverly ambitious and willing
to work hard
• Focused on self interest
• Good at portraying themselves
as humble
• Thrive where individual
performance rewarded over
teamwork
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18. Combinations of the Virtues
Humble + Hungry + Smart: The
Ideal Team Player
• Little ego and little need for
attention or credit
• Comfortable sharing or missing
accolades
• Energy, Passion, Personal
Responsibility
• Says and does the right things
to help team feel appreciated,
understood, and included
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19. Self Assessment
19https://www.tablegroup.com/books/ideal-team-player/self-assessment/

20. Developing the Virtues
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21. Developing the Virtues
• Lack of humility rooted in insecurity
• Identify the root cause – acknowledging can be enough
• Exposure – act like you are humble
• Leader modeling – find someone you admire in this and
replicate what they do
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Developing Humility

22. Developing the Virtues
• Not just about increasing output but embodying the idea of going above and beyond
• Passion for the Mission and Team – connect to the importance of the work being done
• Clear Expectations – what is needed beyond specific job description
• Not Too Gentle Reminders – immediate, unambiguous feedback
• Encouragement – praise and recognition when signs of hunger
• Leader Modeling - find someone you admire in this and replicate what they do
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Developing Hunger

23. Developing the Virtues
• Be sure to be clear on that deficiencies here are not about intention
• Basic Training – tools like DiSC and other OD trainings
• Real Time Feedback – Seek out and ask for others to tell you when
not acting people smart
• Leader Modeling - find someone you admire in this and replicate
what they do
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Developing Smarts

24. Resources for You
In closing:
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25. Resources
• The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni Book
• https://www.amazon.com/Ideal-Team-Player-Recognize-
Cultivate-ebook/dp/B01B6AEJJ0
• TED Talk from Patrick Lencioni
• https://youtu.be/PRh80RyT74I
• Table Group Website
• https://www.tablegroup.com/
• At the Table Podcast with Patrick Lencioni
• https://www.tablegroup.com/at-the-table/
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