The Ideal Team Player

The Ideal Team Player How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues

In his classic book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni laid out a groundbreaking approach for tackling the perilous group behaviors that destroy teamwork. Here he turns his focus to the individual, revealing the three indispensable virtues of an ideal team player. In The Ideal Team Player, Lencioni tells the story of Jeff Shanley, a leader desperate to save his uncle’s company by restoring its cultural commitment to teamwork. Jeff must crack the code on the virtues that real team players possess, and then build a culture of hiring and development around those virtues. Beyond the fable, Lencioni presents a practical framework and actionable tools for identifying, hiring, and developing ideal team players. Whether you’re a leader trying to create a culture around teamwork, a staffing professional looking to hire real team players, or a team player wanting to improve yourself, this book will prove to be as useful as it is compelling.
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Reviews

Photo of Katie Palmer
Katie Palmer@katiepalmer
4.5 stars
Dec 30, 2022

writing is just okay but the message is incredible. proud to be a part of a company that uses this as its standard!!

Photo of Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson@createpei
5 stars
Sep 10, 2022

This book has been sitting by my bedside for almost two years and on my must read list. So when I finally sat down over the Easter Weekend and read this book - followed by Lencioni’s follow-up book (written 14 years later I believe) I was blown away! I strongly recommend that you read “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable“ and the follow-up book “The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues” one after the other. Patrick Lencioni’s fables are fabulously crafted and help to bring the reader directly into the mindset of two leaders facing conundrums - how do I turn a company’s culture around to recognize the power of effective teams. The fables are easily to visualize within your imagination., and you will likely find many of Patrick’s characters familiar from your own career! Patrick’s first book highlights why teams often fail - and then shows how through strong but loving leadership Kathryn, the CEO starts to move her executive team into one powerful unit. All team members are absolutely focused on a common goal; with no time for “look at me - I am more important” or “my project is more important than your project” egos; and where team members hold each other accountable for meeting their stated responsibilities, function and outcomes. The second book’s fable follows Jeff, a character from the first book, as he finds himself suddenly thrust into the CEO’s role - and with his HR and Operations manager through trial and error (and some excellent background research) discover the three key traits that each team member MUST have. Both books show the important impact that each person must play in effecting the change necessary to turn their part of a company or organization into a team-based group. Leaders must show the same three traits as their team members; and walk the talk through: encouraging the growth of each of the three traits in their direct reports; hiring individual who show the three traits; and making it extremely uncomfortable for individuals on the team who aren’t prepared to change their weaknesses. I hope that you read these two books together and that you find them as fun and informative as I did. Best wishes to all of you who want to help lead your teams effectively or work in an organization where these traits are embraced!

Photo of Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson@createpei
5 stars
Aug 27, 2022

This book has been sitting by my bedside for almost two years and on my must read list. So when I finally sat down over the Easter Weekend and read this book - followed by Lencioni’s follow-up book (written 14 years later I believe) I was blown away! I strongly recommend that you read “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable“ and the follow-up book “The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues” one after the other. Patrick Lencioni’s fables are fabulously crafted and help to bring the reader directly into the mindset of two leaders facing conundrums - how do I turn a company’s culture around to recognize the power of effective teams. The fables are easily to visualize within your imagination., and you will likely find many of Patrick’s characters familiar from your own career! Patrick’s first book highlights why teams often fail - and then shows how through strong but loving leadership Kathryn, the CEO starts to move her executive team into one powerful unit. All team members are absolutely focused on a common goal; with no time for “look at me - I am more important” or “my project is more important than your project” egos; and where team members hold each other accountable for meeting their stated responsibilities, function and outcomes. The second book’s fable follows Jeff, a character from the first book, as he finds himself suddenly thrust into the CEO’s role - and with his HR and Operations manager through trial and error (and some excellent background research) discover the three key traits that each team member MUST have. Both books show the important impact that each person must play in effecting the change necessary to turn their part of a company or organization into a team-based group. Leaders must show the same three traits as their team members; and walk the talk through: encouraging the growth of each of the three traits in their direct reports; hiring individual who show the three traits; and making it extremely uncomfortable for individuals on the team who aren’t prepared to change their weaknesses. I hope that you read these two books together and that you find them as fun and informative as I did. Best wishes to all of you who want to help lead your teams effectively or work in an organization where these traits are embraced!

Photo of Megan Rose
Megan Rose@meganrosereads
4 stars
Aug 31, 2021

2nd read-through!

Photo of LongYC
LongYC@longyc
3 stars
Aug 16, 2021

It's an interesting model / concept to build a productive culture and / or to aid hiring productive employees but perhaps some sources of references / research / experience of how this model / concept came to be could offer more context or perspectives.

Photo of Joe Gemignani
Joe Gemignani@jnani
4 stars
Jul 14, 2023
Photo of Ashley Torres
Ashley Torres@aashkleey
3.5 stars
Jul 19, 2022
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Jannis M@jmm
4 stars
Jun 13, 2023
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Sai sundar Raghavan@sai_reads
4 stars
Feb 16, 2023
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Drew Spartz@drewspartz
4 stars
Jan 26, 2023
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Elizabeth Clement@lizziethebadger
4 stars
Dec 31, 2022
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Philip Harrison@feelepxyz
4 stars
Sep 5, 2022
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Levi Nelson@levinelson
3 stars
Aug 12, 2022
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Laura Walden@lauracwalden
5 stars
Feb 19, 2022
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Christian Witts@christianwitts
4 stars
Dec 7, 2021
Photo of Lance Willett
Lance Willett@lancewillett
3 stars
Oct 11, 2021
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Arnaud Spuhler@arnaud
3 stars
Aug 5, 2021