Weaknesses That Make You a Better Team Player
May 28, 2025“I’m so small,” said the mole.
“Yes,” said the boy. “But you make a huge difference.”
-Quote from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
I was recently at a meeting where we had to write down all the strengths we bring to the team. It was an uncomfortable assignment for me as I didn’t want to appear arrogant or show my many weaknesses.
After all, we often think of weaknesses as flaws to overcome or hide, especially in team settings where competence and contribution are prized.
Yet, the conversation that came after sharing all of our strengths became a conversation of vulnerability about our weaknesses as well. One person was an extrovert, another an introvert. One person was strong with words, another with numbers. We found that our strengths complemented each person’s weaknesses. We found that our perceived weaknesses were actually quiet strengths that enhanced our ability to work well with others.
Take self-doubt, for example. While it can be paralyzing in excess, a modest amount can make you more teachable and less prone to steamrolling others. It creates space for collaboration, because you’re open to input and willing to admit you don’t have all the answers.
Or consider sensitivity. It’s easy to label emotional attunement as fragility, but in a team environment, being sensitive to tone, tension, or unspoken needs can make you a natural bridge-builder. You help create a safety net, which is something every thriving team needs.
Even introversion, often mistaken for disengagement, can bring deep listening, thoughtful reflection, and a calming presence to group dynamics. You may not speak often, but when you do, your words carry weight.
What we label as “weakness” may simply be a different kind of strength, one that serves the group as a whole. Teams don’t flourish because everyone is impressive; they flourish because people are real, responsive, and rooted in humility. Sometimes, the most quietly powerful team players are the ones who lead not from dominance, but from depth.
“Always remember you matter, you’re important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can.”
-Quote from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Katie Rea, WTC Writing Coach
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