So, you understand what an Ideal Team Player is, you’ve identified where you sit in the diagram and you’ve learnt about how to improve Humble.
No small talk, let’s dive straight in.
I’ve got good news and bad news for you.
The good news is that Hunger is the least sensitive and nuanced of the three virtues (woo!).
The bad news is that it’s the hardest to change. But! You’re here, so that’s already a win.
Increasing Hunger isn’t just about increasing output, it’s about actually transforming yourself so that you can embody the idea of going above and beyond, without needing to be pushed and reminded.
I get it, sometimes it’s easier to just do what is expected of you and nothing more. Case and point, if you ask me to empty the dishwasher, I’ll empty the dishwasher but I’m not necessarily going to choose to stack it with the dishes in the sink.
The question you have to ask yourself here is “do I like being this way?”. If you are happy with less responsibility and more free time then you might not like the recommendations to come. If you would like nothing more than to be fully engaged and more productive, read on!
Here’s what Lencioni recommends:
Passion for the Mission and the Team: Figure out what connects you to the importance of the work being done. Until you work out what can drive you, you’re not going to get far. It’s hard for anyone to be Hungry when we don’t understand the what role we are playing in the bigger picture or what impact it’s going to have on others. And I’m sorry to disappoint, but “wanting to keep my job” isn’t enough of a reason. If you’re struggling to figure out what it is, speak to your leader or others on your team. If you hear your leader explain the importance of your role or you hear your colleagues explain their motivation or connection to the mission, you may realise just how important your role actually is.
Clear Expectations: This involves setting clear behavioural standards that you are held accountable to. To clarify here, we’re not talking about performance targets and goals. Yes, they are important but we’re talking about behaviours. Lencioni says it’s one thing to specify output (hit $10,000 minimum in sales), it’s another thing to take on additional hours and go above and beyond not just to hit the minimum but to get the best results you possibly can. The behaviour we’re going for here is not doing the bare minimum like you might usually default to, it’s about going above and beyond. Whether that means working late, working weekends or getting out of your comfort zone, it’s about the behaviour not the target.
Not-Too-Gentle Reminders: Don’t expect immediate results and don’t expect this to be a one and done. Even those who have a natural Hunger still go through ebbs and flows. These reminders can happen in one of two ways. As I mentioned when I was talking about Humility, if you have someone that you trust, who has good emotional intelligence, that can hold you accountable and call you out when you aren’t fulfilling the behaviours, great! Go make your list of behaviours and go ask them. Right now, go! If you don’t have that person, or you feel that you aren’t ready, you need to hold yourself accountable. This means setting really clear behavioural standards and expectations, and then conducting honest self-assessments on yourself and your level of fulfilment (and then celebrating your wins and learning from the losses).
Are you still with me?
I know what you’re thinking but I never said this was going to be easy. I promise it’ll be worth it though!
Ready to get Hungry?
Here’s your first task. I want you to comment below, right now and tell me what you’re going to do.
Really, do it.
Coming up next, developing Smart!
Jess Weiss
Managing Consultant
