The top 5 qualities I look for in a team player:
1. Reliability. They do what they say they’ll do. Not sometimes. Consistently. Reliability is the foundation of trust, and trust is the foundation of team.
2. Honesty. They tell you the truth, including when it’s uncomfortable. They don’t manage your perception. They manage reality.
3. Generosity. They share credit, share knowledge, share time. They don’t hoard.
4. Coachability. They can receive feedback and change because of it. Not defensively. Not grudgingly. Genuinely.
5. Initiative. They don’t wait to be told. They see what needs doing and do it.
Notice what’s not on this list: talent. Talented people who lack these qualities are frequently net negatives on a team. Reliable, honest, generous, coachable, proactive people – even with modest talent – compound over time.