Book Review

The purpose of the book titled The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni, is to
demonstrate that an excellent team player, which the author refers to as “the right people” (p.
155) has three virtues have in common. These three virtues are humility, hunger, and smarts.
These virtues encompass the ideal team player model. He addresses what happens 1 or more of
the virtues are missing, and how one could address this issue, and how the methods he uses can
apply to hiring people and developing a team. Lencioni defines all three of the virtues he
presents. He explains that the humble man lacks ego and concerns about his status (p. 157). He
further explains that “Humility is the single greatest and most indispensable attribute of being a
team player,” (p. 157). Lencioni defines being hungry as “always looking for more”. He cites
that the hungry are always looking for more things to do, for more things to learn, and for more
responsible roles. (p. 159). However, sometimes hunger can be harmful for a team, and can be
perceived as selfish, where the individual performs for himself and for the attention of others,
and not for the team. He finally defines smarts as a person’s common sense regarding people. It
is “…the ability to be interpersonally appropriate and aware,” (p. 160). One who is smart asks
good questions, is both attentive and listens to others, and stays engaged in any conversation (p.
160). Although smarts are often compared to emotional intelligence, it is simpler than that. They
simply have good judgement about group dynamics and are aware of the power of their words
(p. 160).
I learned many valuable lessons about how to not only be an excellent team
player, but how to identify the characteristics of an excellent team player and how to implement
those characteristics into my own life. There were two main takeaways that I received from
reading this book. The first takeaway was the four primary applications of the ideal team player
model. On page 174 of the book, Lencioni lists that these applications are hiring, assessing
current employees, raising up employees who are lacking in one or more of the virtues, and
embedding the aforementioned model into the organization’s culture (p.174). Specifically, the
application of raising up employees who lack in one of the three virtues. The book states that
when a leader has established a clear sense of his strengths and weaknesses of his employees
related to these three virtues, improvement can begin. Lencioni strongly believes that the most
important aspect of the developing process is the leader’s responsibility of constantly reminding
the team or employee struggling in the area of one of the three virtues that they are not doing
what is needed for the team. Although it seems like a simple responsibility of the leader, it is the
aspect of leading that is often missed for a single reason: it is uncomfortable. Although it is both
unpleasant and socially awkward, it is the most important thing a manager can do for their team
(p. 190). The second takeaway from the book was the fable that takes a significant portion of the
book. The fable tells the story of Jeff Shanley, who is a desperate leader attempting to save his
uncle’s company by placing emphasis on the philosophy and commitment to teamwork by means
of pouring into his employees. Jeff discovers the traits that an ideal player must possess and
create a culture around the virtues he discovers.

The fable was one of the book’s greatest strengths and weaknesses. Personally, my mind
works with pictures and applicability using reality or realistic depictions of life. This helped me
understand the content that I was about to read after the narrative that Lencioni presented in the
other half of the book. Seeing the fable was the hook that got me interested in reading the rest of
the book. The realistic interactions in the narrative part later helped me connect the content in the
remaining parts of the book with the fable. However, the fable was also one of the book’s
weaknesses. Although I enjoy picturesque stories, the fable went on for too long. When a story
goes along, repeating the main point in seven different angles, it loses my attention. This was one
of the problems that I faced when reading the fable. However, the rest of the book had
redemption for the elongated introduction. The book overall was exquisite. My main positive
critique for Lencioni’s book was the interactive content presented throughout the book. For
example, the employee self-assessment on page 192 indicated how each of the listed statements
applies to the reader’s actions on the team. I have led many teams before reading this book and I
wish I could have known about the assessment due to its efficiency and effectiveness. The
assessment covers all three of the virtues and asks a series of questions covering each virtue. On
the “humble” section, for example, it asks “My teammates would say I compliment or praise
them without hesitation” (p. 192). The reader must then rate that statement on a scale from 1 to
3, with 1 being “rarely”, and 3 being “usually”. This type of interactivity helps me visualize how
to apply the ideal team player method and the virtues that are the core values of the method.

The main pointers I learned from the book were how to apply the characteristics
that make the ideal team player and how I can be both a better leader and team player. My main
conviction from reading the book was applying the virtue of humility in my own life. I found that
the lack of humility is one of my main struggles. Prior to reading the book, I imagined that
someone with lack of humility is someone who is boastful, prideful, and exhibits egomaniac
behavior. However, that is only part of the symptoms. The lack of humility also means lacking
self-confidence, despite being generous to others, which I found to be my main struggle when
I’m leading others. I often times find myself discounting my own talents and abilities, which is
mistaken as humility. Since I have read this book, I will take it upon myself to catch myself in
that area. I will no longer discredit myself for my talents but be humble when I lead others in my
ministry journey.

Bibliography
Lencioni, Patrick. The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential
Virtues (J-B Lencioni Series). 1st ed., Jossey-Bass, 2016.