Everyone would like to be part of a dream team - a group of people, each skilled in their own discipline, pulling together to achieve more than they ever could alone. Yet while most organisations talk about teamwork, they still tend to reward individual performance and promote people who are most comfortable standing apart rather than pulling together.
Teams can feel uncomfortable. They demand shared accountability, compromise and trust. But for integrated tasks - building systems, delivering complex products, or sustaining coordinated effort - teams remain the most effective way to get things done.
The key to successful team building lies in aligning roles, rewards, objectives and ownership with the team — not just the individual. Here are ten ways to do exactly that.
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Establish common cause and a shared mindset. Strong teams are energised by a clear sense of purpose. Involve team members in shaping the vision, agreeing goals and defining success. People perform better when they know what they are aiming for, how progress will be measured, and where the milestones lie.
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Turn purpose into a simple, shared plan. Once mission, outcomes and goals are clear, create a plan everyone understands. Planning avoids duplication, reduces friction and prevents important work from falling through the cracks. Clarity saves time - and energy.
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Do the basics of leadership consistently well. Tell people their work matters. Say thank you. Offer help — and ask for it. Give autonomy over how work is done, provide variety, show interest and treat mistakes as learning opportunities. Celebrate progress and make achievement visible. These basics never go out of date.
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Create a climate of innovation and experimentation. When “how” is too rigidly prescribed, motivation and creativity suffer. Teams perform best when people feel a sense of choice, ownership and permission to experiment. Innovation thrives where curiosity is encouraged and learning is valued over blame.
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Understand before you judge. Effective teamwork depends on understanding others - not necessarily agreeing with them. Invest in people’s learning and development. Share your thinking openly, especially around priorities and objectives. The ultimate goal is collective ownership, not individual credit.
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Address resistance with patience and purpose. Not everyone instinctively embraces teamwork. Overcome resistance by repeatedly reinforcing shared goals and priorities. Listen carefully to concerns, protect dignity, invite suggestions and calmly restate why collaboration matters. Consistency wins converts.
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Build joy, not just output. Teams are made up of whole people, not just job descriptions. Shared experiences - formal or informal - build trust and cohesion. While not everyone will embrace every activity, a sense of enjoyment strengthens commitment and resilience.
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Design for strengths, not perfection. High-performing teams distribute talent rather than duplicate it. No one needs to be good at everything. Effective teams are open about strengths and limitations, treating weaknesses as information rather than failure. They adapt, cover intelligently and move forward without blame.
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Let roles evolve naturally. In healthy teams, people gravitate towards roles that suit their strengths - leader, innovator, organiser, evaluator, negotiator or process manager. The key is not rigid allocation, but ensuring all roles are played. Balance matters more than titles.
- Lead connection, especially at a distance. Virtual and hybrid teams are now the norm. Stay connected through regular communication, predictable availability and appropriate use of technology. Be mindful of cultural differences and time zones. Connection is no longer accidental. It must be led.
This article was originally prepared for participants on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. It reflects the practical disciplines leaders need to build strong, effective teams - whether they are leading for the first time or refining long-established practice. To find out how you or your team can benefit, please contact us.
William Montgomery is the Founder and CEO of TEN LTD, and an experienced keynote speaker and event host. He works with leaders and organisations across sectors, bringing practical insight drawn from real-world leadership experience. For speaking or event enquiries, please contact +44 333 666 1010.