The Ideal Team Player

“Leaders who can identify, hire, and cultivate employees who are humble, hungry, and smart will have a serious advantage over those who cannot.”

This passage, mentioned in the Introduction, demonstrates the book’s main argument. Also evident is one of the book’s themes, The Impact of Teamwork on Overall Performance, as Lencioni suggests that a culture of teamwork gives companies a competitive advantage.

“He was learning more than he could have imagined from his uncle, who never finished college but seemed to have a better understanding of business than many of the CEOs Jeff had worked with in technology.”

Jeff’s uncle Bob, the CEO of Valley Builders, is described here. Jeff, who had previously worked in Silicon Valley, admires the comparatively unpretentious manner in which Bob conducts business. Bob’s expertise comes from the trials and tribulations of owning his own company.

“Jeff wanted to argue, but knew that she was right. Thinking about the big picture too much would overwhelm him, but he could certainly manage one issue at a time.”

Jeff’s wife, Maurine, gives him advice that helps provide him with a measure of peace as he stresses about his new position at Valley Builders. In accepting the advice without pushing back, Jeff shows a willingness to be humble.