Team-Building

5 ways to build a high-performing team

January 12, 2018

Meshing diverse working styles and personalities harmoniously on a team can be tricky. It takes time to build the right team for the job. But it isn’t just about picking the right people.

Share experience to forge bonds

January 2, 2018

When batting around ideas with a colleague, start by talking about the past rather than the future. Share personal anecdotes, compare notes and see if your experiences align. Once you establish that you’re like-minded, you can build on that common bond to brainstorm.

4 foundations of company culture

December 28, 2017

You see it in business, sports and government: Almost everyone acknowledges that an organization’s culture is essential to its success. To help you see your team’s cultural value proposition in practical terms, break it down into these four practices.

Boost morale with cross-training

November 30, 2017

Abandoning the “aces in their places” strategy where individuals were limited to specialized roles, restaurant manager Robert Conrad enabled everyone to learn from each other and become proficient in a wider range of jobs.

Starbucks’ charity bonded staff

October 13, 2017
Here’s an easy way to make your team come together: Mobilize everyone to donate time and energy to improve their community.

Two stars learn from each other

September 8, 2017
During their first game together on October 12, 1979, legendary star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and dazzling rookie Magic Johnson weren’t sure what to expect from each other. But they found out soon enough.

How one team’s clubhouse design creates bonds

August 10, 2017
The Chicago Cubs’ new Wrigley Field clubhouse is unlike any other in major league baseball because it’s a circle. The unusual shape promotes equality and collaboration.

What Cubs and Red Sox scouts look for

June 22, 2017
Theo Epstein is a baseball legend—and he’s only 43 years old. He recruited the right mix of players so that two storied franchises, the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, could win the World Series after long droughts. Assembling these winning teams did not happen by accident.

To tame egos, start sweeping

May 31, 2017
When Graham Henry became head coach of New Zealand’s national rugby team in 2004, he knew he faced long odds. The once-great rugby powerhouse—perhaps the most successful sports team ever—was in a rut.

The secret language of high-fives

April 13, 2017
There are many ways to cheer your teammates’ triumphs and prod them to pick up their game when they’re down. What’s important is showing that you care and you’re rowing along with everyone in pursuit of shared success.