5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team That Drive Results
A lot goes into business success, and one of the most important is effective teamwork. While every business works differently and has different needs, this is something that applies to just about every organization in the world. And we’ve worked with enough of them to know…
If you want to take your company to the next level, you'll need a strong team to take it there. But how can you go about this?
No matter how solid your team currently is, there's always room for improvement. As such, you should understand the best approaches that will help improve operations.
In this guide, we'll explore 5 behaviors of a cohesive team that will help you elevate your business and achieve success. Let's get started.
Trust is the cornerstone of any successful team. Without it, team members are unlikely to be vulnerable, take risks, or openly share ideas. A cohesive team is built on a foundation of psychological safety, where individuals feel confident that their colleagues have their best interests at heart.
Why Trust Matters
Trust is the glue that holds a team together. When team members trust one another, they are more likely to:
Communicate openly
Collaborate effectively
Support each other through challenges
Trust reduces the fear of failure, which fosters innovation and creativity. In a high-trust environment, team members feel safe to be open with their ideas and won't fear failure so much. They also know that their contributions will be valued and respected.
How to Build Trust
Building trust within a team requires intentional effort and consistent behavior. There are a few things that you can encourage that will help build trust among your team.
First, everyone should be okay with feeling vulnerable. Leaders should model vulnerability by admitting mistakes and asking for help when they need it. This sets the tone for the rest of the team and encourages others to do the same.
Encourage transparency and create opportunities for team members to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas without fear of judgment. Regular check-ins and open forums can help facilitate this.
Celebrate strengths and achievements. Acknowledge and appreciate the unique contributions of each team member. Recognizing individual strengths builds confidence and reinforces team trust.
Lead by Example
It's important for this to start at the top. Employees will take their cues from those above them, so as a leader, you should show the trust you have for others in your organization. Being transparent will also help encourage others to do the same.
Many people tend to shy away from conflict, which can be even more common in the workplace. It's natural to worry that it might lead to tension or division. While this is possible, teams can also benefit from some disagreements every now and then.
A cohesive team understands that healthy conflict is essential for growth and innovation. Not every suggestion is perfect, so it's important for team members to speak up if they see an issue or an opportunity for improvement. When team members feel safe to disagree and challenge ideas, they can arrive at better, more well-rounded solutions.
Why Healthy Conflict Matters
Healthy conflict prevents groupthink and encourages diverse perspectives. It leads to more thorough decision-making processes and strengthens relationships by resolving issues openly.
When team members engage in constructive debate, they can identify potential pitfalls, explore alternative solutions, and ultimately make better decisions. In today's competitive landscape, businesses that innovate and experiment can often get ahead of others in their industry. This line of thinking could significantly benefit your company in this regard.
How to Foster Healthy Conflict
Fostering healthy conflict requires creating an environment where disagreement is seen as a positive contribution. You can implement various strategies to achieve this.
Start by setting ground rules. Establish clear guidelines for respectful disagreement, such as focusing on ideas rather than personal attacks. This helps ensure that conflicts remain productive and don't escalate into personal disputes.
Encourage debate among team members. Create a culture where questioning and challenging ideas is seen as a positive contribution. Encourage team members to voice their opinions and engage in constructive debate.
Mediate when necessary. Leaders should step in to ensure conflicts remain productive and don't escalate into personal disputes. Mediation can help keep discussions focused and respectful, particularly if things seem to be going off track or escalating.
Take a Tactful Approach
It's important to be careful with this approach. If things do go too far, conflict can cause some serious issues. As such, it's best to ensure everyone understands what healthy conflict involves.
When bringing in new team members, explain to them how they can have these discussions with other team members. Make sure they know what's beneficial within your business, and what is out of bounds. When everyone is on the same page, your team will be able to generate better results without any major issues arising.
A cohesive team will always be fully committed to its goals and objectives. This commitment stems from clarity and buy-in.
Every team member should understand the direction and be aligned with the mission. When everyone is on the same page, the team can move forward with confidence and focus.
Why Commitment Matters
Commitment ensures that everyone is working toward the same objectives. You will have business goals, and these should be made clear to every employee.
Strong commitment reduces ambiguity and increases accountability, driving momentum and progress. When team members are committed to the same core goals, they are more likely to take ownership of their work and go the extra mile to achieve success.
How to Build Commitment
Building commitment within a team requires clear communication and involvement in the goal-setting process. While there is likely to be some natural commitment amongst your team, there are some ways you can further promote it.
First and foremost, you need to clarify any goals. Clearly define the team's objectives and ensure everyone understands their role in achieving them. This helps create a shared sense of purpose and direction.
You can also encourage ownership among individuals. Involve team members in the goal-setting process to increase accountability. When team members have a say in setting goals, they are more likely to be committed to achieving them, as well as a better understanding of what they need to do.
Don't just set the goals and walk away--revisit them regularly. Routinely review progress and adjust goals as needed to keep the team aligned. This helps ensure that everyone remains focused and motivated, and you can make adjustments if needed.
Keep Everyone on the Same Page
New employees coming in should know what their goals are from the start. Make this a
If any changes are made, ensure everyone is updated. By communicating such changes, you'll know that everyone is always working collectively towards these goals.
In a cohesive team, accountability isn't just the responsibility of the leader--it's a shared value. Team members hold themselves and each other accountable for their actions, behaviors, and results. This creates a culture of excellence where everyone strives to do their best.
Why Accountability Matters
Accountability ensures that everyone is pulling their weight. It builds trust and respect among team members and drives consistent performance and results. When team members hold each other accountable, they are more likely to meet their commitments and deliver high-quality work.
How to Foster Accountability
Fostering group accountability within a team requires clear expectations and a culture of feedback. Some people may be resistant to taking accountability, particularly when they make a mistake or underperform. There are a few approaches you can take to remedy this.
Begin by setting clear expectations. Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and performance standards. This helps ensure that everyone knows what is expected of them.
Provide feedback on your team's performance. Regularly give and receive constructive feedback to address issues and celebrate successes.
Feedback helps team members understand how they are performing and where they can improve. Note that you don't want to just discuss where things are going wrong; you also want to explain how improvements can be made.
Finally, make sure you lead by example. Leaders should model accountability by taking responsibility for their actions and decisions. When leaders demonstrate accountability, it sets the standard for the rest of the team.
Accountability Helps People Perform Their Best
Clear accountability will help every team member understand what they need to be doing, and they'll also be able to see their own mistakes more easily. On top of that, they'll be more observant of those around them. This will allow them to spot issues and help offer suggestions for improvements, leading to better overall results.
A cohesive team is laser-focused on achieving results. They prioritize the success of the team over individual recognition or personal agendas. This results-oriented mindset ensures that everyone is working toward the same outcomes and celebrating collective wins.
Why Focusing On Results Matters
Focusing on results keeps the team aligned and motivated. It drives measurable outcomes and success, reinforcing a culture of collaboration and shared purpose.
People may want to naturally stand out, but in doing so, they could compromise the wider goals of the organization. However, when team members prioritize collective success, they are more likely to work together effectively and achieve their goals.
How to Focus On Results
Focusing on results requires clear goals and a culture of recognition. You can encourage this in a few ways.
Start by defining success. Give clear outlines of what success looks like to your brand and how it will be measured. This helps ensure that everyone understands their objectives.
Track progress through regular reviews of goals and milestones. Celebrate these when you reach them to help keep the team motivated and focused on achieving results.
You should also reward team efforts. Recognize collective achievements to reinforce the importance of teamwork. Celebrating team successes helps build a culture of collaboration and shared purpose.
Know Your Results
Make sure you understand what your business is trying to achieve as well as the metrics you need to track. Through regular reviews, you can determine if you're on track, and what you can do to improve productivity (particularly if you're falling behind). Ensure you keep your team up to date so that they can keep a better focus on what they're trying to achieve.
A cohesive team is more than the sum of its parts:
Fostering trust
Embracing healthy conflict
Committing to shared goals
Maintaining accountability
Focusing on results
All of these, when effectively combined, can help teams achieve extraordinary outcomes. These behaviors not only improve team dynamics but also drive measurable results that benefit the entire organization.
At Powers Resource Center, we understand team psychology and specialize in helping companies develop these behaviors through tailored leadership development programs, team-building workshops, and coaching. Whether you're looking to strengthen your team's cohesion or drive better results, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Implementing These 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team
The above 5 behaviors of a cohesive team can help your business achieve its full potential. Through effective leadership, you can instill these behaviors to ensure every team member makes them a part of their daily working life. As a result, your team will be better poised to work together to achieve common goals with ease.
At Powers Resource Center, we understand the different challenges that modern businesses can face. Through transformative custom corporate training, employee development and training materials, and leadership acceleration programs, we can help both small and large businesses build teams that can drive them toward their goals.
We've won many awards in recent years from the Brandon Hall Group due to our ability to transform businesses and guide them to success. Get in touch with us today to find out more about how we can do the same for you.
WATCH this video short on the 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team
