“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 were asked to write down all the strengths we bring to the team. It was an uncomfortable assignment for me—I didn’t want to appear arrogant or reveal the many weaknesses I carry.

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 followed our sharing of strengths became one of vulnerability about our weaknesses as well. One person was an extrovert, another an introvert. One was strong with words, another with numbers. We began to see how our strengths complemented each other’s limitations—and how our perceived weaknesses were actually quiet strengths that enhanced our ability to work together.

Take self-doubt, for example. While it can be paralyzing in excess, a modest amount can make you more teachable and less to steamroll 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. Emotional attunement is often mislabeled as fragility, yet 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—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” is simply a different 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 those 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

This article is adapted from a previously published blog post I wrote for Wisdom Tree Collective. Weaknesses That Make You a Better Team Player

Thought, Word & Deed

A newsletter by Katie Rea.