In business, people are everything.
You can have a brilliant idea, an impressive strategy, and powerful tools at your fingertips—but without the right team around you, you’ll always be pushing uphill.
At Freedom BC, we often say:
Your team will either build your business or break it.
And that’s exactly why The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni has become a must-read in our world.
It’s not just a book—it’s a lens that helps business owners truly understand what makes someone a great fit for a high-performing, values-driven team.
So… what is an Ideal Team Player?
Lencioni breaks it down into three non-negotiable qualities:
1. Humble
This is the opposite of ego.
Ideal team players don’t crave attention or personal recognition—they care more about collective success. They’re quick to share credit and slower to take it.
2. Hungry
This doesn’t mean working 80-hour weeks—it means having an inner drive.
Hungry team players are self-motivated, always looking for ways to grow, improve, and go the extra mile. They don’t sit back and wait to be told what to do.
3. People Smart
This is all about emotional intelligence.
They know how their words, actions, and energy affect others. They’re good listeners, great collaborators, and they adapt to the dynamics of the team.
Why These Traits Matter in Real Life
Let’s get real: most business owners don’t have the time or energy to micromanage.
You need people who:
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Take initiative
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Communicate clearly
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Support each other
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Handle feedback well
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Keep the business moving forward, even when you’re not in the room
A team full of ideal team players becomes a self-managing, high-trust environment. It’s the kind of team where:
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Projects flow smoother
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Accountability increases
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Culture gets stronger
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Results come faster
Sound ideal? That’s because it is.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
Now here’s the other side.
If someone is missing just one of the three traits—humility, hunger, or people smarts—it can cause real issues:
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A hungry but not humble person may bulldoze others.
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A humble but not hungry person might drift or need constant direction.
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A people-smart but not hungry person could charm their way around responsibility.
And worst of all: these issues can be hard to spot at first… but they always show up in your culture, your team morale, and your bottom line.
Building a Team That Fits
Here’s the good news:
You don’t need to settle for “just okay” when it comes to your team.
At Freedom BC, we help business owners:
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Hire with the Ideal Team Player traits in mind
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Coach existing team members to develop them
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Have the right conversations to build alignment
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And when needed—make tough decisions to protect culture
Because if your business is going to scale, you need more than warm bodies filling roles.
You need the right people.
People who show up with humility, hunger, and heart.
Ready to Review Your Team?
If you’ve been feeling that something’s “off” with your team—or if you’re ready to build the dream team your business truly deserves—we’d love to help.
📞 Book a discovery call at www.freedombc.uk
Let’s get clear on what’s missing, and build a team that can take your business to the next level.