THE LINC COLLECTIVE

The Four Types of People on Every Team (And How to Lead Them Well)

Every team, every organization, every family—even every church—has four types of people in the room. Knowing who they are isn’t about labeling or limiting people; it’s about leading with clarity. When we can identify the different levels of engagement and attitude within our teams, we’re better equipped to cultivate momentum, build healthy culture, and move people toward purpose.

In this week’s Open House, we picked up from last week’s message on the change curve. We talked about how transition often starts with energy, dips into uncertainty, and climbs again only if we stay aware, engaged, and intentional. But here’s the thing: how your team navigates that curve matters just as much as how you do.

So let’s explore the four types of people on every team—and how to lead them forward.

1. The Spectator

Positive attitude, low engagement

These are your cheerleaders. They love what you’re building, they speak highly of your mission, and they’re genuinely for you—but they’re not currently on the field. They might be stretched in their own lives, traveling for work, or showing up when they can, but their heart is in.

How to lead them:
Celebrate their support. Let them know they matter. Spectators often become players when the time is right, and your honor can unlock their involvement.

2. The Numb

Low attitude, low engagement

These people aren’t bad—they’re just burnt out. They may have lost vision, hit a wall, or slipped into apathy. And while their presence might feel like a weight at times, their silence is often a signal: something deeper is going on.

How to lead them:
Offer empathy. Provide support. This is where good counseling, rest, and intentional care make all the difference. The numb don’t need a push; they need a hand to hold.

3. The Critic

High engagement, low attitude

They’re in every meeting, on every thread, and quick to raise their voice—but not always in ways that build. Critics are engaged, yes, but their posture can drain momentum if not addressed with wisdom.

How to lead them:
Shift the quality of interaction. Critics thrive in echo chambers but are transformed through high-quality conversations with people who live bigger, dream higher, and speak faith. Elevate the dialogue, and you may elevate their perspective.

4. The Player

High engagement, high attitude

These are your people. The ones who are in the trenches, on the field, ready to run through walls to build what God is doing. Research shows that just 20% of people in any organization living in this space can carry the rest—and if you steward them well, that 20% can change the game.

How to lead them:
Give them opportunity. Trust them with more than they think they can handle. Don’t let them be buried in critic circles. Champion their growth and release them into impact.

From Critic to Contributor: The Power of a High-Quality Conversation

One key insight from this conversation: critics aren’t changed by content—they’re changed by connection. A high-quality interaction with a human being who is living free, thinking higher, and speaking life can shift someone out of a critical posture and into a contributing one. Don’t underestimate what one coffee, one conversation, or one God moment can do.

Living as a Player in Every Sphere

As leaders, we won’t always live in the player zone. Sometimes we drift. Sometimes we dip. But the goal is to stay aware—of ourselves and those around us. To lead with empathy, to speak with clarity, and to cultivate a team that doesn’t just show up, but shows up well.

So ask yourself:

• Who are the players in your world right now?
• Who might be stuck in numbness?
• Who’s cheering from the sidelines—and how can you celebrate them?
• Who’s criticizing—and how can you elevate the conversation?

Momentum is built in the middle. And with the right people in the right place, we won’t just survive the curve—we’ll climb it.

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