Character Counts Twice
A thought to consider…
We’re always trying to surround ourselves with great people; internally on our teams and externally across project partners.
But what actually makes someone a great team member?
Skills and talents can be learned.
Processes can be taught.
Experience accumulates with time.
But character counts twice.
We also tend to forget how little time we have to form a first impression. In interviews, kickoff meetings and early project moments, people show us who they are; often more clearly than they realize.
Here’s a simple lens to use and a set of questions to ask.
Qualities of a Stand-Up Team Member
Honesty & Integrity
Do they tell the truth when it costs them something?
Willingness to Learn
Are they actively growing or just accumulating years?
Cheerful Energy
Do they raise the room or quietly drain it?
Accountability
Do they see results as a shared outcome or a personal responsibility?
Adaptability
Can they move forward when the plan breaks? Can they be resourceful?
Mental Toughness
Can they stay steady under pressure, without hardening?
Eng-Spire Labs: Questions That Reveal Character
The magic isn’t just in what people answer; it’s how they answer, how quickly they take ownership and whether their stories feel lived-in or rehearsed.
For team leaders, here are questions worth asking.
If you’re the one being interviewed, these are worth preparing for.
Willingness to Learn
What’s something you’re noticeably better at today than you were two years ago? How did that happen?
Tell me about a time you were out of your depth. What did you do in the first week?
Cheerful Energy
What kind of teammate are you when a project is behind, and everyone is stressed?
Who do you do your best work with and why?
Accountability
Tell me about a project where the outcome wasn’t what you hoped. What part of that was on you?
When something goes wrong on a team, what’s the first thing you look at?
Adaptability
What do you do when you disagree with a decision but still have to execute it?
Tell me about a time the plan changed at the last minute. What did you do next?
Mental Toughness
What’s been the most demanding period of your career so far? What kept you going?
How do you know when you’re starting to burn out, and what do you do about it?
Structural 101: Why Teams Matter More Than Talent
Extraordinary buildings don’t come from lone brilliance.
They come from teams that trust each other, challenge each other, and genuinely enjoy working together.
Teams that:
build relationships early
laugh together
stay when things get hard
Once you find people with strong character, the work gets lighter, and the outcomes improve.
Problems shrink faster.
Creativity shows up sooner.
You stop relying on heroics and start relying on each other.
It’s the kind of team you want to stay with for a while.
And yes, sometimes it looks like a group of serious professionals playing together in the middle of a CASA Mental Health IPD session.
That’s not a distraction.
That’s trust being built.
Your Turn: Who Are You Becoming on a Team?
As the year winds down, ask yourself:
What kind of teammate am I under pressure?
Where have I grown and where have I stalled?
What part of the outcome do I usually own?
Skills may open the door.
Character determines who stays in the room.