Why We Should Ban “Team Mentality” and Focus on Individual Excellence
We’ve been told that teamwork is the key to success, but what if that’s a myth? Too often, teams rely on collective effort without real accountability, while high-performing individuals drive results on their own.
Why We Should Ban “Team Mentality” and Focus on Individual Excellence
Paola Bapelle |YEET MAGAZINE | Published: December 31, 2024, 10:00 AM | Updated: January 31, 2025, 2:00 PM
Think about the last time you worked on a team.
Was it a well-oiled machine, where everyone pulled their weight? Or did a handful of individuals do all the work while others hid behind the "team" label?
I’ve seen it happen time and time again.
I’ve watched individuals move mountains to make things happen. And I’ve seen teams that couldn’t move a needle because everyone relied too much on one another.
We’ve glorified teamwork to the point where it’s become a weakness.
Being part of a team does not automatically mean you’re contributing. And when the “team mentality” overshadows individual effort, progress dies.
The Problem With Team Mentality
We’re constantly told that “teamwork makes the dream work.”
But what happens when that dream never turns into reality?
I’ve gone from:
- Believing teamwork was the ultimate key to success
- Thinking that just being in a team meant I was adding value
- Watching strong individuals carry entire groups without recognition
- Seeing lone heroes succeed where teams failed miserably
- To focusing on hiring individuals who can outperform teams of 20
The truth is, high-performing individuals drive results faster than a dysfunctional team.
Ownership and Impact: Why Individual Excellence Matters
- Top performers don’t wait for consensus; they take action
- Individual accountability leads to results faster than group hesitation
- A strong performer will always outperform a passive team
How many times have you been in a team where nothing moved forward because people kept waiting for approval?
This is why I prioritize hiring impact-driven individuals over those who simply “work well in a team.”
Contribution and Value: Why Strong Individuals Drive Success
- Being part of a team isn’t enough—what you bring to the table matters
- Personal effort is what drives innovation and breakthroughs
- Teams succeed when they’re built around strong individuals, not groupthink
I’ve worked in teams where the loudest voices got all the credit, even when they contributed the least.
Meanwhile, the quiet high performers were the ones actually making things happen.
Mindset and Execution: The Problem With Relying on a Team
- Relying on a team for progress often leads to stagnation
- A self-sufficient individual is more valuable than ten people waiting for direction
- Success comes from those who take initiative, not just those who collaborate
A team should be a collection of strong individuals, not a safety net for people to hide behind.
Hiring and Leadership: Why I Hire for Impact, Not Just Teamwork
When I hire, I don’t just look for “team players.”
- I focus on individuals who can deliver what teams often can’t
- The right person can accomplish more than a group struggling with decision-making
- I don’t just hire for teamwork; I hire for execution
A team is only as strong as its strongest individual.
And if that individual is carrying everyone else, then what’s the point of the team?
Elon Musk's Perspective on Individual Excellence
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a similar view on the importance of individual excellence within a team. He states, "Talent is extremely important. It’s like a sports team, the team that has the best individual player will often win but then there’s a multiplier from how those players work together and the strategy they employ."
Musk's approach underscores that while teamwork is essential, the contribution of exceptional individuals can significantly elevate a team's performance. This perspective aligns with the idea that fostering individual excellence leads to greater collective success.
Jeff Bezos on Teamwork and Leadership
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, also emphasizes individual initiative. Bezos has been quoted saying, "The great thing about working at Amazon is that you’re encouraged to take risks, to think big, and to be willing to fail. That’s what makes it such an exciting place to work – it attracts individuals who are ambitious and willing to push the boundaries."
Bezos has long promoted a culture that empowers individuals to take ownership of projects, knowing that exceptional leaders and contributors can drive greater success than a team simply following orders.
Mark Zuckerberg on Individual Impact
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook (now Meta), is another leader who highlights individual excellence. He believes in the power of individual initiative within a team, saying, "The most important thing that I’ve learned in my career is that you have to be really careful about who you surround yourself with. If you surround yourself with great people, it can be much easier to get the best out of them and take the whole organization forward."
Zuckerberg recognizes that great teams are made up of high-performing individuals, and while collaboration is vital, the contribution of the right individuals can drive transformative change.
The Future of Work: Individual Excellence Over Team Mentality
Companies need to rethink the way they approach success.
It’s not about how many people are on your team. It’s about whether you have the right individuals who can get the job done.
Teams have their place.
But the ones who drive real change? They’re the individuals who take action, with or without a team.
Have you ever seen an individual outperform an entire team?
