Pat Lencioni, author of The Ideal Team Player, names humility as the first and most essential attribute of any great team player.
Why? Because humble people think in terms of we, not me.
They are “We Players,” not “Me Players.” And in today’s complex business landscape, where success is built on collaboration, not individual heroics, that difference is everything.
The Quiet
Strength of a “We
Player”
A “We Player” doesn’t downplay their capabilities – they just don’t need to shine a spotlight on them.
They share credit, welcome feedback, and focus on outcomes bigger than their ego. They’re the ones who say, “What’s best for the team?” instead of “How does this make me look?”
And this isn’t about being passive or soft. It’s about strength under control – knowing your worth, but not needing to dominate the room. In fact, it’s exactly what Jim Collins called the Level 5 Leader in Good to Great: someone with a paradoxical blend of personal humility and fierce professional will. The kind of leader who’s more “plough horse” than “show pony.”
Let’s be honest – show ponies look great. They speak well, present beautifully, and love the spotlight. But plough horses? They do the work. They build systems. They coach. They stay calm when things get tough. They’re consistent. And they quietly carry the team forward.
Why Humility
Wins in the Long
Game
In your business – whether it’s recruitment, sales, tech, or trades – your company is a living organism made up of people.
Not ideas. Not strategy decks. Not logos. Just people working together in teams.
And when you build teams full of “Me Players” – those who hoard credit, deflect blame, and view success through a mirror instead of a window – you may get short-term wins. But you’ll never get true culture. You’ll never build loyalty. And you’ll never scale in a sustainable way.
In contrast, a team built around humility becomes safe – for ideas, feedback, experimentation, and even failure.
And that kind of environment creates innovation, retention, and resilience. That’s where greatness lives.
How to Spot (or
Build) Humility in
Your Team
- They say “we” more than “I.”
- They ask more questions than they give answers.
- They celebrate others – even when no one’s watching.
- They accept responsibility quickly, and share success freely.
- They don’t need to be right – they want to get it right.
If you’re a leader, you set the tone. Show up as the plough horse. Do the work. Praise the team. Protect the culture.
And teach others that humility isn’t weakness – it’s the ultimate strength.
My Final Thought…
Your business doesn’t need more superstars.
It needs more servant leaders.
More Level 5 players.
More “we” over “me.”
Because when the egos step aside, the real work begins.
– Jo