Over many years of consulting for a wide range of for-profit and non-profit companies and organizations, I’ve discovered the secret to effective team building, and it’s something most people don’t ever consider.

The standard way of putting teams together is to wing it, almost to the point where it’s reminiscent of picking teams on the school playground, and we all know how pleasant and equitable that process is. There just isn’t a high level of team building sophistication in most workplaces, people are thrown together and expected to perform well without any support. The predictable result is frustrated, unhappy team members and leaders. The weird thing is that this process routinely occurs in even some of the most successful companies. Ask almost anyone what they think about working in a team and you’ll hear harrowing tales of an oppressive environment where dominant individuals take over, people’s ideas are not considered, and results leave much to be desired.

Yes, people do get some amazing things done and make a lot of money with the standard, ad-hoc, chaotic, reactive team model. Most of humankind’s amazing accomplishments have come to fruition under this unhealthy, topsy-turvy approach because it’s all we knew how to do. Thankfully, we now understand that we don’t have to settle for stratified, disorganized, stress-filled teams, we have the knowledge to bring people together so that they can function at a far higher level.

So, what’s the secret to effective team building? It’s doing things like:

• Deciding that team building is a priority.
• Setting aside the time for people to learn and practice team building.
• Teaching people concrete skills to work together well.
• Encouraging collaboration instead of competition.
• Giving everyone a voice.
• Listening to all team members.
• Utilizing people’s strengths and interests.
• Being open to new and different ideas and perspectives.
• Getting rid of hierarchy.
• Creating a process that reduces stress.
• Treating people with kindness and empathy.
• Clearly defining goals.
• Committing to implementing a long-term team building program.

Imagine what your workplace would look and feel like if you and your staff built teams that adhered to all these principles. You’d get a lot done with far fewer problems and obstacles and enjoy many benefits, including:

• More cohesive teams.
• Better collaboration.
• Reduced conflict.
• Communicating effectively.
• Clarity of purpose, goals, and roles.
• Eliminating egos.
• Less wasted time.
• Fewer power struggles.
• Greater creativity.
• More positive interactions.
• Improved interpersonal relationships.
• Increased productivity and profits.
• Being proactive instead of reactive.
• Getting more work done with less stress.
• Happier team members.

What so many companies and organizations have missed in the past is that you can achieve great things without resorting to the controlling, domineering, unpleasant, harsh, anxious, fear-riddled way of doing things that became the norm in most of our workplaces.

If you’ve ever worked in a healthy team, you know what it’s like to not have to worry about having your ideas crushed, putting up with someone acting like a dictator, not being valued, or being forced to perform at inhuman levels to meet deadlines. We don’t have to make teams so unpleasant, they can actually be groups of people working in harmony.

The secret to effective team building is that you don’t have to make people suffer to get high-quality work done, you can develop a program in your workplace that teaches you and your staff vital skills to succeed instead of agonize. All you have to do is decide that you’re going to do something different and then commit the time and energy to making it happen. It’s up to you when you begin. Cheers, Guy.

Bring Your People Together and Create a Thriving Culture of Team Building with My Advanced Team Building Program