You’ve heard the old saying there’s no “i” in “team”. It’s a catchy little way of framing that team members should not focus on themselves as individuals. There may not be an “i” in “team” but there certainly are enough letters to spell “me”. A great reminder that, at its core, a team is a group of individuals. One that cannot perform at its highest without every member bringing their best “me”.

Someone once said the truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off. Here is a simple truth: your focus on being a good member of a good team is preventing you and the team from reaching your fullest potential. A healthy “we” requires a healthy “me”. In other words, forget all the social programming that has taught you that being selfish on a team is a sign of a not-so-good team member. That is simply B.S.

Your team needs you to be incredibly selfish (or self-ful). You are designed to play a very important role in any team you join. Do you know what that role is or what superpower you bring to the team when you are operating at 100% you? Take a moment and reflect on the last team meeting you participated in. Grade yourself. Were you present? Were you engaged? Did you fully present yourself, your ideas, your concerns? 

When you hold yourself back you hurt the team. Lean into the fact that the “we” needs a healthy “me”. That perspective, framing, may feel a bit off at first, but give yourself time to adjust to the new normal. The new normal that says when I know who I am, why I’m here, and what superpower I possess, I can fully bring “me” to the “we”.