Every great team can only be comprised of great individuals.  Any team is only as great as the collection of the individuals that form this team.  With each strong individual, the team will exponentially extend it’s capacity to generate a greater impact.  With each weak individual, the team will have a diminishing capacity.

Teams require individuals that excel.  Once each individual excels, they can then work in the practice of relating with others as a team.  But, you should have to excel first to be added to the team.  To place someone on the team only because they relate well with others, but offer no real expertise or talent, is to have purposely added a diminishing quality to the team.

To provide guidance on individual expectations and to help you determine if you might be a great team member, I offer advice from A.G. Lafley.  As an individual pursuing excellence yourself and aspiring to be a great team member, are these the choices you have made to excel?

Control the person you wish to become:

1. Choose to be clear about and learn to live your values.
2. Accept that change is the only constant in life.
3. See things as they are.
4. Surround yourself with people who will always tell you the truth.
5. Choose to be a master in an area where your talent and passion come together.
6. Choose to lead the change you want to see in the world around you.
7. Choose to be yourself.

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”   —  Phil Jackson  —

MITM