So You Want a Team Player – or Do You?

The most common intangible request for personality style or characteristic that we see and hear is – we want a team player.  But what does it mean?  Is it another of those we’ll know it when we see it characteristics or is it something we can measure and objectively look for.  Here is a Google inspired definition of a team.  Teamwork is a joint action by two or more people, in which each person contributes with different skills and expresses his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group.

I take issue with the requirement for a team of different skills in private equity – it might be a good idea but we rarely see it in practice.  Most of the people that we hire for private equity firms are pretty much the same as everyone else in the firm – same background, same style, same outlook.   So they aren’t often bringing different skills and whilst they have a view, their opinions are probably pretty much the same as everyone else’s in the team.  And three times out of four when we are asked to recruit from a different background to bring some balance, you still revert to the same profile you’ve always gone for.   Why? Because you can better judge the usual profile than a different one and fit doesn’t usually feel as good. So, as a general rule, I don’t think that our clients are hiring for difference, but for fit. 

So I found another definition which I find more appealing for private equity:  a person who can function effectively as part of a group of individuals sharing information and striving towards a common goal. I like this better. One of a group of individuals.  Most work in private equity is done as an individual – you have to work on your own - even when contributing to a deal team you will be doing your bit on your own.  Rarely does the whole group work together on something.  And to work effectively as individuals – you need a common goal or there would be chaos. The common goal is crucial and comes right back to leadership and communication within the business.

So how do we find these individuals who can work on their own towards a common goal?   We look for evidence of working effectively on their own and communicating with others, whether in the work place or in team activities such as sport.  In the work place they are going to be the high performers – that usually means they achieve as an individual and stand out from their peers.  So how can we then tell that they aren’t just single minded operators who achieve alone – or even at the expense of others?  Understanding their interests can help here. Team sports are good – and rowing and rugby are probably the most common sports on the CVs of those people we see hired.     What I like about all serious sports people is that they have had to dedicate time and commitment away from their main daily activity to succeed.  It helps show that intangible characteristic of ‘going the extra mile’.  So whether a team sport, a marathon runner, or grade eight piano - it takes effort.   But what I like about team sports such as rugby above marathon running is the confrontational element of the sport.  You have to take people head on and not waver in your resolve.  A good character strength for negotiation.  And what do I like about rowing?  Well, you have to get up early in the morning for a start and you compete against yourself as well as others with a firm resolve to win on both occasions.   And in both sports, not only is there a common goal but communication of your intention with others is key.  In most sports you have to take some personal pain whether physical or in terms of commitment and that makes a strong set of characteristics for the individual team sport of private equity.  

Gail McManus - PER