Ideal team players are individuals who build and facilitate teamwork. They share a blend of three essential virtues—humility, hunger, and people smarts—that enable trust, commitment, and accountability. These colleagues are adept at overcoming the dysfunctions that often derail teams. In particular, smart colleagues understand team dynamics and know how to deal with others in the most effective and tactful way. Learn more about how managers can help employees develop greater self-awareness and interpersonal skills.

1. P A T R I C K L E N C I O N I
HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES
DEVELOP PEOPLE SMARTS

2. 2Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
Ideal team players—employees
who embody the virtues
essential for teamwork—need
to have an abundance of
“people smarts.”

3. 3Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
This term does not refer to IQ,
but rather a person’s ability to
understand group dynamics
and be socially aware.

4. 4Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
Colleagues with people smarts
have good interpersonal skills.
They ask good questions and
listen well to others.

5. 5Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
Most people deficient in this virtue are likely
oblivious to how the team perceives them.

6. 6Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
There are two things managers can
do to gently guide these employees
on the path to greater awareness:
get the team involved and cover
the basics of expected behaviors.

7. 7Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
GET THE TEAM INVOLVED

8. 8Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
It’s best to make it clear to
everyone on the team that a
deficiency in this area is
not about intention.
GET THE TEAM INVOLVED

9. 9Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
Employees who lack people smarts
have no desire to create problems
with their teammates. They may
just need support and coaching.
GET THE TEAM INVOLVED

10. COVER THE BASICS

11. 11Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
Quickly (and kindly) redirect an
employee on the spot when there
is an opportunity for growth.
COVER THE BASICS

12. 12Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
For example, remind an employee
to thank a colleague for help—
a social nicety he or she may not
initiate without a cue.
COVER THE BASICS

13. 13Help Your Employees Develop People Smarts
The keys to success are
repetition and kindness.

14. Learn more about helping your
employees develop the core
virtues of an ideal team player.
www.wiley.com/go/patricklencioni
Adapted from The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize
and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues