I find that you can tell a lot about a person by his answer to this question. Would he rather be the star, the one everybody looks up to, even though the team as a whole performs poorly? Or would he be able to take on a role of humility, finding satisfaction in the success largely attributable to others?
I’ve been in both circumstances at different times in my life, and I have to say that I would rather be the worst member of a great team. It can be tough to swallow my pride, but I truly feel that a team’s success spreads to each member. And more importantly, I have great examples of how to improve myself, by following the lead of the rest of the team. But if I were the best member of a lousy team, there would be no example for me to follow, no one to look up to for improvement.
So maybe my motives are not entirely altruistic after all.
I’ve been in both circumstances at different times in my life, and I have to say that I would rather be the worst member of a great team. It can be tough to swallow my pride, but I truly feel that a team’s success spreads to each member. And more importantly, I have great examples of how to improve myself, by following the lead of the rest of the team. But if I were the best member of a lousy team, there would be no example for me to follow, no one to look up to for improvement.
So maybe my motives are not entirely altruistic after all.