Finding the Ideal Team Player

Introduction

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General Topic – Are the people surrounding you causing frustrations? – Humble Hungry and Smart

Introduce GuestThe Ideal Team Player – Book by Patrick Lencioni – A Leadership Fable about the Three Essential VirtuesIs this book about three things that make the most successful farmers the most successful?Let’s take the setting of this book out of the corporate world and apply it to farming and agriculture!We often talk about whether someone is a ‘team player’. In interviews, performance reviews, or while sharing feedback.  Everyone agrees that being a team player is extremely desirable in an employee or vendor that a farmer does business with. We all in our minds have a definition of a team player, what’s yours?!According to Lencioni, a team player has three characteristics. Further, Lencioni states, when a team member significantly lacks one or more of these virtues, the process of building a cohesive team becomes hard, and in some cases, impossible. So in the words of your farm.  If you or a member if your team (family, employees, advisory team, or vendors) don’t share these attributes or aren’t working to grow them…..you’re less likely to succeed.Virtue #1 – HumbleThis is by far the most obvious and easiest to understand. Humility in a team member shows up as a lack of excessive ego, or concerns about personal status. Whoofta – who just thought of that salesman/buyer that you don’t like working with…..acting like their shit don’t stinkProbably also just thought about someone you know who always seems to genuinely care when you meet them for a conversationThey are quick to share credit, praise others freely, and sometimes even forego credit due to them in the interest of celebrating the team’s collective win. I’m thinking of an agronomist we just interviewed….even though he made the suggestions, he’s going to celebrate you when your production results come in.They demonstrate strong alignment towards the team’s goals, and prioritize collective wins over individual ones. Humble team players are self-confident, but not arrogant. A memorable quote that summarizes this indispensable attribute is:“Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”Note-Be careful: People who are insecure sometimes discount their own talents and thereby appear humble. People whose sense of self-worth is extremely deflated often end up hurting the team by being very passive. They don’t advocate for their ideas, nor call out the team’s inadequacies.Virtue #2 – HungryHungry: Hungry people are always looking for more.  (just like our listeners)They are intrinsically motivated, diligent, and have a strong desire to do more by going above and beyond. I think of most of these to be business owners.  I find in farming it is rare to find an employee that will go above and beyond for the benefit of their employer’s farm.  I know they exist, just think it is rare.Hungry people do not have to be pushed by their managers to perform; they are constantly looking for more responsibility, and thinking about the next step and the next opportunity (for the team).Who do you know, or just popped in your head right now as we described it?Do you work with them already?Can you hire this person?Note – be aware: Some people can be ‘hungry’ in a selfish way, and that is extremely detrimental to team health. Hunger driven by selfishness causes individual goals always trump collective team goals.Virtue #3 – SmartSmart: By ‘smart’, the author here refers to emotional intelligence and interpersonal awarenessThe capability to conduct oneself in a group situation and deal with others in the most effective way.Jen Hartman talked about this….some people just “get it” Emotionally intelligent people ask good questions, listen to what others are saying, and stay engaged in conversations intently. In-laws “Grumpy Dan” vs “Happy Dan”We all have landlords like this……some get it and others appear mean-heartlessSmart people exercise great judgment and intuition around the subtleties of group dynamics and are fully aware of the effect their words will have on the team.Note- watch out: ‘Smart’ness does not always imply good intentions. Watch out for ‘smart’ people who are in it for the wrong reasons.What happens if you or someone doesn’t have all three?The accidental mess-maker: You know that team member who is wicked smart, motivated and always bubbling with great ideas, but very often ends up rubbing others the wrong way? This person is Humble and Hungry, but not Smart!The skillful politician: That engineer who is everyone’s friend and confidant, and knows the perfect thing to say every time. He’s motivated, eager, and ambitious, but only where there’s an element of personal benefit The skillful politician, who is Hungry and Smart, but not Humble!The lovable slacker: He cares about everyone. He’s charming and always positive. He is technically capable, dependable, and is a solid member of the team. But — he does only as much as he is asked to do, and is rarely proactive with seeking newer areas of work. The lovable slacker, who is Humble and Smart, but not Hungry!The bulldozer: A powerhouse, he is determined to get stuff done, but with a focus on his personal achievements with little concern for his team. He neither knows nor cares how his words impact the people around him. A bulldozer who’s Hungry, but neither Humble nor Smart.Yada Yada Yada, right?  I still don’t think this matters to my little ol farm….. or it’s dad’s farm and I am just working here until he retires.This matters in so many areas.  Employees, the network around you, and the way you conduct yourself.How do I grow my farm?  Maybe by emitting these characteristics while serving on a board.  Meeting a future landlord and earning their trust.Maybe you develop a relationship with a cattle or hog buyer.  Get a trusting relationship that gets the most for your animal through mutual respect.Building trust in general….that’s how you learn about opportunities We all know a famer/rancher that seems to get into the win/win opportunities, do they possess these characteristics?Any other pieces of information to share with our listeners?What do you see your top producing or top tier of clients doing? –Common traitsSummaryChallengeSubmit questions and topic suggestionsLike, Rate, Review, Share