Executive TLDR
Yolene Justafort outlines 10 essential qualities of great teammates, emphasizing leadership by example, sacrifice, communication, accountability, competence, positivity, and continuous self-improvement as the foundation for thriving in team environments.
Video Summary
Yolene Justafort opens with gratitude and recognition for leadership within Primerica, emphasizing the importance of learning from those who are already succeeding. She frames her talk around ten essential qualities that define great teammates and strong leaders within any organization.
The first principle is leading by example. Regardless of title or position, strong teammates model winning attitudes, commitment, and work ethic. They demonstrate through action what excellence looks like. The second rule requires sacrificing ego. High-performing teams thrive when individuals put collective success above personal agendas.
She explains that great teammates care deeply — about the team, the environment, and the clients they serve. They remain supportive and never allow temporary setbacks to impact their attitude. Another key principle is bringing out the best in others. Effective teammates understand the strengths of those around them and position people for success, creating an atmosphere of trust and confidence.
Communication is highlighted as foundational not only in business but in life. Open, honest dialogue builds accountability and keeps teams aligned. She stresses the importance of being a positive force — bringing enthusiasm, encouragement, and uplifting energy that sustains morale during challenges.
Respect and coachability are also critical. Strong teammates listen, show up early, stay late, maintain good attitudes, and remain accountable. Reliability follows closely behind — honoring commitments and consistently following through builds trust within the group.
Competence is another pillar. Leaders must know their craft and continually expand their knowledge so they can effectively guide others. Self-improvement is not optional; it is necessary to give value to others. Finally, she emphasizes healthy competitiveness — an internal drive toward continual growth that raises standards for the entire team.
She concludes with a leadership principle inspired by John C. Maxwell: a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. True leadership in team environments comes from example, consistency, and a commitment to helping others win.
FAQs
What is the most important quality of a great teammate?
Leading by example through character, work ethic, and consistency.
Why is sacrificing ego important in teams?
Ego creates division, while selflessness builds unity and collective success.
How does communication impact team success?
Open communication strengthens relationships, accountability, and clarity of direction.
Why is competence necessary for leadership?
You cannot teach or guide effectively without mastering your craft first.
What role does self-improvement play in teamwork?
Personal growth increases your ability to contribute value and elevate others.
Glossary
Primerica
A financial services organization focused on serving families and developing independent representatives.
John C. Maxwell
Leadership expert known for defining leadership as knowing, going, and showing the way.
Accountability
Taking responsibility for actions and commitments within a team.
Coachability
The willingness to learn, accept feedback, and improve.
Competitive Spirit
An internal drive to continually improve and raise performance standards.
Transcript:
Good morning. Good morning. First of all, I thank god for us being here today. We woke up and we are here following a path that can lead us to success for our family. I would like to thank Denise and Joe Cardino. Really, I really love you and appreciate you and all the great RVPs and leaders that we are rubbing shoulder with who are really making it but teaching us how to do it. And I’m not going to talk too long. And particularly thank you to believers, sharon and her husband that traveled from Maryland to be here with us this morning. Thank you. I appreciate you. We say I’m going. All right. My conversation this morning is to you. All the great teammates got ten qualities that we would like to share with you and that you implement. The first one is lead by example. It doesn’t matter where you are in a business, but it’s very important that you lead by example.
The best teammates are establish a winning attitude of their own character, commitment and work ethic. They lead with tremendous effort in all situation as they set example for their teammates to follow. Number two, they sacrifice their own ego. How many of you have the ego and you want to do what you want whenever you want it and not care about others. But the right teammate, the ultimate teammate set assign their personal agendas, sacrificing themselves for the good of the teammate all the team. Number three, they care passionately, not only for the team, the environment that they are in, but also for their clients, people that they serve. They are incredible and incredibly supportive. They are excited for your success and always have your back. They never let their individual performance affect their attitude. Number four, bring out the best in others. We need that because sometimes situation happen and then you feel down if you got somebody around you that just bring you up.
That’s very important. They completely believe in their fellow team members. They know their teammate and strength and position them to succeed. This total trust allows them to perform with tremendous confidence. Let’s go. Let’s go. Number five, communication. Communicate openly. I will say is not only in business is life rules and regulation. Communication. If you do not communicate with somebody, they don’t know exactly what you want or what you’re looking for. The great teammate, the connector with team members by personally investing in each other the form strong relationship allow them to lead the men accountability, which is very important to be accountable to your leader and keep on the team moving in the right direction. Who can claim that as a teammate? Number six, be a positive force great teammate that live from the spirit of the group through enthusiasm and encouragement. They have an energy about themselves that keep everyone in the team positive and confident.
In our office we have many great teammates like that always bring each other up. Always kind of got a kind word to say so that can help you go through your own path. Number seven, the show respect. This is very important not only for the environment that we are in, but show respect for everyone that you have an opportunity to talk to. The great teammen are coachable. They all themselves accountable as they are true team players. They show respect by listening, being on time first in and last hours on any event. And they have a good attitude all the time. Number eight, real. I do have a very important teammate in my group that I can rely on at any time. Just call and then she’s making things happen and I call her name. That’s Sharon. I really appreciate her. Great teammates can always be counted on day in and day out.
They follow through on their words. They earn the respect of the group through their consistency. And I go for number nine, competent. We have to so many of the leaders talk already about know your craft, feel comfortable under your skin. Great teammates always push themselves to expand their understanding of the system. So they employed more knowledge they have. The more they can help their teammate, more, you know, the more you can transfer the wealth of knowledge to others. Number ten highly competitive great teammates are the fuel by an internal fire that pushes them toward continual improvement. From the day I got started in this business, I always hear Linda talk about self improvement. You cannot give what you don’t have, so you got to continuously self improve yourself so this way you can help others. They set high standards and push their teammates to put forth their best effort.
So we have the four first or two wars up there. They are leaders, they are great teammates, they are great example. And what they do, they are just consent to all of you, the future of VP in the back, what they know what they have, so you can be the best we could be. And the last one, a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and also shows the way about this former John Maxwell and I do believe that’s who we’re supposed to be, the leader that could just lead the way by doing it first. And I thank you all. Thank you. I got.
