Who’s Your Spirit Muppet?

How the most quirky traits help build high-performing teams

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The Muppets were the most high-performing team in the history of pop culture, with a blend of quirky characters creating the ultimate dream team. What can we learn from this high-performing team?

Jim Henson based each of his puppet characters on a human personality, such as a family member or a musical icon. So perhaps there is a little Muppet in all of us! Read on to refresh your memory of these favorite characters, and consider how their strengths and eccentricities helped make them so magical and enduring. Hopefully, this post will help you rethink the value of the Muppet-like traits you bring to your team.

Who’s your Spirit Muppet?

Servant Leadership: Kermit the Frog is seen as the leader — loyal, brave, and kind. Kermit exhibits deep empathy, is vulnerable and courageous, and shows his values. Author Brene Brown describes a “Daring Leader” who “serves other people, not themselves.” This is Kermit — the charming, unassuming daring leader — who didn’t aspire to lead. We connect to Kermit’s audacious belief in basic goodness and his faith in his team.

I’d work for Kermit — would you? If you are a Kermit, your Daring Leadership and unswavering belief in your team will help others find and grow their own potential.

Mastering our craft: Animal, the consummate tortured artist and creative soul, is undoubtedly everyone’s favorite. He invariably lifts people’s spirits with his wild but engaging outbursts. Observing his free-wheeling behavior helps us activate our inner Animal by flexing the right side of our brains, which improves our creative problem-solving. In “A Whole New Mind,” Daniel Pink describes how the modern landscape of knowledge work “corresponds to the increased importance of right-brain thinking.” Creative thinkers like Animal will rule the future.

If you are an Animal, you help us connect with our internal creativity and flex our innovation muscle.