Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Vijay Menta, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Vijay may be reached at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.
“There’s no ‘I’ in team.”
We’ve all heard that phrase, sometimes shouted from the sidelines and sometimes posted on office walls in block letters. It’s one of the most repeated slogans in business, sports, and leadership circles, delivered as a universal truth: individual ego has no place in a team environment.
But let’s be honest. That old saying doesn’t tell the whole story in the real world, especially in technology. Worse, it overlooks the strengths and unique contributions of individual team members. The message focuses on what not to do but fails to celebrate the positives that individuals bring to the table.
Sure, there’s no capital “I” in “team.” But look closer and you’ll find something important hiding in plain sight: the lowercase “i.”
Behind every successful team are individuals contributing their unique strengths and perspectives. In IT, those lowercase “i’s” — innovation, influence, integration, impact, and insight — are exactly what keep teams agile, creative, and effective.
Without them, teams become stagnant, locked into old ways of working and blind to new possibilities. With them, teams become engines of progress.
This isn’t about lone wolves, superheroes swooping in to save the day, or unchecked egos. It’s about how each person, regardless of their title, can bring critical value to the team by embracing these essential qualities.
So let’s stop pretending there’s no “i” in team. Let’s talk about why there absolutely should be, and must be, a lowercase “i” in all IT teams, and how you can bring yours to the table.
Moving Beyond the Capital “I”
The idea that there’s no “I” in team was meant to guard against self-centered behavior, reminding us that collaboration is more valuable than individual glory. That’s important, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Because the “i” we need in our teams is about individuals who bring unique perspectives, creativity, and initiative to move the whole group forward.
Especially in IT, where technology is increasingly the backbone of business success, we need every person to contribute their own lowercase “i’s.” And not just CIOs or formal leaders, but every developer, analyst, engineer, and support professional.
Let’s explore why each of these “i’s” matters so much.
i is for Innovation
Innovation is often painted as something that happens in a fancy lab or during a million-dollar transformation project. But true innovation usually begins with a simple idea from someone close to the work.
- A support technician automates a repetitive process to save hours of manual effort.
- A network engineer designs a smarter way to manage traffic spikes.
- A developer uses a new API to improve performance.
Innovation thrives in IT teams where individuals feel empowered to ask “Why?” or “What if?”
In a world moving as fast as ours, we can’t wait for innovation to trickle down from the top. We need everyone, at every level, to feel like they have permission and responsibility to innovate.
So yes, there’s no capital “I” in team. But the lower case “i” of innovation? Essential.
i is for Influence
Influence isn’t about power plays or titles. It’s about persuading others with good ideas, clear communication, and trust.
Consider these quiet influencers:
- An analyst who notices a data trend and convinces leadership to investigate further.
- A cybersecurity expert who explains risks in business language so stakeholders truly understand.
- A helpdesk pro who advocates for a better customer experience based on real user pain points.
Influence is everyone’s job in IT. No matter where you sit on the org chart, your ability to speak up, build relationships, and communicate ideas can drive the entire team forward.
So the next time someone insists there’s no “I” in team, tell them there’s an “i” for influence, and it’s one of the most powerful tools any team can have.
i is for Integration
Modern IT teams environments are complex ecosystems. Systems, apps, clouds, APIs, everything has to talk to everything else.
But integration is about more than systems. It’s about connecting people, processes, and ideas:
- A project manager aligns multiple departments on a shared timeline.
- A developer bridges the gap between business requirements and technical design.
- A data engineer ensures insights flow seamlessly between platforms.
Teams fall apart without integration. Silos grow. Communication breaks down. Small problems snowball into big ones.
Integration happens because individuals step up to connect the dots others miss. They see the big picture and help ensure the team moves together.
So yes, there’s no “I” in team. Except for the lowercase “i” that makes integration possible.
i is for Impact
IT exists for one reason: to make a difference.
For years, IT’s value was measured by uptime, response times, or how quickly tickets were closed. Those things still matter—but they’re just the starting point.
Today, teams are measured by impact:
- How does our work help the community grow?
- How does it improve the customer experience?
- How does it support employees in doing their best work?
- How does it help meet sustainability and social responsibility goals?
Impact is what transforms IT from a cost center into a value creator.
And it happens when individuals stay connected to their purpose. When you ask yourself:
- How does my work contribute to the bigger picture?
- How will this project make things better for real people?
- How can I explain my impact in simple, meaningful terms?
Teams succeed when individuals care deeply about their impact—and take ownership of creating it.
i is for Insight
We live in a world drowning in data. Yet data alone isn’t worth much unless someone can extract the insights that guide action.
Insight comes from individuals who:
- Notice patterns others overlook.
- Translate raw data into clear recommendations.
- Help colleagues make better, faster decisions.
Insight might be:
- A help desk technician notices a spike in tickets around a new app.
- An analyst spots a drop-off in user engagement and asks why.
- A systems admin sees subtle performance shifts that signal bigger problems ahead.
Insightful people help their teams avoid disasters, seize opportunities, and continuously improve.
So yes, there’s no “I” in team, but the lowercase “i” for insight might just save the day.
The Collective Power of the lowercase “i”
Each of these “i’s” is powerful on its own. But together, they’re transformational.
Imagine a team where every person:
- Feels empowered to innovate.
- Uses influence to share ideas and shape decisions.
- Acts as an integrator to keep work flowing smoothly.
- Connects daily tasks to broader impact.
- Seeks and shares insight to guide the way.
That’s a team that’s not only effective, it’s unstoppable.
And here’s the best part: you don’t have to be a CIO or a leader with a fancy title. You just have to show up ready to contribute your lowercase “i.”
Embracing Your “i”
So, how do you start?
- Speak up. Don’t assume someone else will voice your idea.
- Stay curious. Learn new skills, explore new tools, and look for ways to improve.
- Think big picture. Connect your daily work to your organization’s mission and goals.
- Communicate clearly. Make sure your ideas are accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Measure your impact. Know how your work creates value, and share those results.
A team without individuals willing to contribute their lowercase “i’s” is just a collection of people checking boxes. A team full of “i’s” becomes a powerhouse of creativity, resilience, and progress.
There is an “i” in Team—And That’s a Good Thing
So the next time someone tells you, “There’s no ‘I’ in team,” smile politely, and feel free to disagree, just a little.
Because without your unique contributions, your creativity, your voice, your insights, there’s no innovation, no influence, no integration, no impact, and no insight. It’s not about putting yourself above the team. It’s about bringing your best self to the team. And that’s the kind of “i” every team needs.
So, for all the quiet innovators, the thoughtful influencers, the behind-the-scenes integrators, the impact-drivers, and the insight-sharers, there may be no capital “I” in team, but do you agree that there is a lowercase “i”? It’s everywhere. And it makes all the difference.
Let’s make sure we celebrate the “i’s on your team!
How do you plan to start to further embrace your “i”?
Last week, we asked which strategy you would most like to use more with your team:
- 23% said reprioritize with existing work
- 22% said use language intentionally
- 17% said communicate the impact
- 14% said rebalance the work
- 13% said reset expectations
- 10% said express gratitude
As we think about embracing our “i”, there is a foundational “i” to consider: intentionality. The common theme of last week’s survey is we want to be more intentional with our team. Whether it be with language, prioritization, communications, expectations, or gratitude. A great way to increase our intentionality: slow down. Take a breath. Consider your goal for the task in front of you and take steps to achieve that goal.