Infuse Infuse 1 September 2017 | Page 31

So , how do you find this elusive “ ideal team player ”?
This starts with the recruitment process . Lencioni recommends group interviews , where you can debrief as a team after each interview . He also suggests non-traditional interviews , set in everyday situations – e . g ., spending time in a car or running an errand – where the interviewer can observe how candidates react to different situations , and can look for signs that they are humble , hungry and smart .
Above : Reprinted with permission from The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni . Jossey-Bass . 2016
Patrick describes the ideal team player as having the following three virtues : humility , hunger , and smarts .
• Humility is , in his view , the most important virtue . A humble person is someone who is not concerned about status and doesn ’ t have an ego , but rather acknowledges the contribution of the team , and emphasises and defines success by the team -- rather than personal success .
• Hungry people are always looking to do more , learn more and be more responsible . These people are self-motivated , go above and beyond what is required and are always thinking about the next opportunity .
• Lencioni defines Smart people as those with excellent emotional intelligence , great interpersonal skills and self-awareness .
( If you ’ re curious where you sit for each of these virtues , you can complete your own self-assessment .)
The ideal team player must have all three virtues – meaning , if even one virtue is missing , people are not great team players . For example , if someone is people-smart but lacks humility and hunger , they can be seen as the “ charmer ” -- someone who might be likeable , but isn ’ t interested in team success . On the other hand , someone who is hungry but lacks humility and people smarts might come across as a “ bulldozer ”: someone who is determined to get things done but , again , with little interest for the team and how their actions impact others .
The author recommends asking candidates what would others say about them , e . g . -- “ How would your colleagues describe your work ethic ?” You are more likely to get a more honest answer than if you asked them to describe their own work ethic .
Here are some specific examples of interview questions that Patrick mentions in his book :
Humble
• What was the most embarrassing moment in your career ? Or the biggest failure ? Humble people are generally not afraid to share their failings / weaknesses .
Hungry
• What is the hardest you ’ ve ever worked on something in your life ? Hungry people are grateful and enjoy the experience ; and don ’ t complain .
Smart
• What kind of people annoy you the most and how do you deal with them ? Smart people are self-aware and are able to manage these situations in a constructive manner .
You can read more suggested interview questions here .
Ready to implement Lencioni ’ s suggestions ? You can start by evaluating your current team for the three virtues by using this checklist .
© Dietitian Connection Infuse | September 2017