Behind every great organization is a group of humans trying to figure out how to work together without throwing staplers. Teams can be amazing when they click – or disastrous when they don’t.

People don’t default to teamwork, they default to self-centeredness.

It’s the leader’s job to build the framework that creates the teamwork. Here are 11 ways to build a team that works hard, laughs often and ultimately creates results.

1. Hire team players

You can’t build a dream team out of people who have different ideas of what teamwork is. When hiring, don’t just check resumes, check for actual human skills. Ask yourself: Will this person share credit or throw their teammates under the bus for a pat on the back? Pro tip: Create a profile of your ideal candidate with your current team’s input.  What are the skills required? What personal qualities would have chemistry with this team? After all, they’ll be the ones sitting next to the new hire when the coffee runs out.

2. Establish the purpose of being a team.

If your team doesn’t know why it exists, it’ll feel less like a workplace and more like a confused group project from a 10th-grade history class. Be crystal clear. Ask questions like: Why are we here? What does winning look like? Bonus points if you can explain it without a 40-slide PowerPoint.

3. Learn the individuality of each team member.

Your team isn’t made up of robots. Everyone’s wired differently. Some people thrive under pressure; some panic if the Wi-Fi blinks. Be a student of your team. Survey them, talk to them, make notes. You might discover Carl in accounting is secretly a Photoshop wizard or that Emily can solve problems faster than Google.

4. Show how the pieces fit together.

A team is basically a giant human puzzle. And puzzles are only fun when you can see the picture on the box. Show each member how their unique piece connects with others. When someone realizes their spreadsheet wizardry helps the marketing team avoid total chaos, suddenly their job feels less like “data entry” and more like “saving civilization.”

5. Mix it up.

Variety is the spice of teamwork. Don’t let people get stuck in their same little silos. Rotate project partners, create random collaborations and maybe even host a team karaoke night. When people get to know each other beyond “that guy from IT,” magic happens.

6. Have fun.

Work doesn’t have to be all serious and spreadsheet-y. Plan surprise activities, celebrate holidays and inject some silliness. Taco Tuesday? Yes. Desk-decorating contests? Absolutely. When people laugh together, they survive stress better – and meetings become less painful.

7. Develop processes that encourage teamwork.

Processes don’t sound fun, but they prevent chaos. Create systems that make collaboration easy: shared docs, clear responsibilities, leadership rotations. And give everyone a chance to lead something. When people feel trusted, they rise to the occasion. Plus, if everyone leads occasionally, you don’t end up with one person hoarding all the power.

8. Praise actions that benefit the whole.

Humans do more of what gets rewarded. So when you see teamwork in action, shout it out. Public praise, high fives, shout-outs – whatever works. Celebrate short-term wins, even small ones. Momentum builds faster when people feel recognized. Also, nothing bonds a team like pizza ordered in honor of “beating the printer jam crisis of 2025.”

9. Give feedback that correct actions that are off purpose.

At some point, someone’s going to mess up.  But feedback doesn’t have to feel like a courtroom cross-examination. Be honest, but kind. Instead of “You’re destroying the team,” try, “Hey, just FYI there’s no need for you reply-all to every email.” Correct, redirect, and remind them of the team’s shared values. The goal: fewer tears, more progress.

10. Conduct periodic critiques.

Every so often, pause and ask, “How are we doing?” If your team groans in unison, it might be time for a tune-up. Conduct critiques that allow everyone to share feedback, even you. It shows humility, plus you might learn things like, “Our weekly meeting could be an email,” or “Please, for the love of coffee, stop scheduling 8 a.m. brainstorms.”

11. Resource your team.

Nothing kills morale faster than asking people to “do more with less” forever. If you can, get your team the tools they need. Buy the software, approve the training, fix the broken chairs. And if you can’t? At least remove obstacles. Sometimes clearing red tape is more valuable than buying a shiny gadget.

Teams aren’t perfect because people aren’t perfect. But when you hire wisely, clarify purpose, celebrate wins and yes, occasionally feed them tacos, you end up with something better than just “employees.” You create a culture. A team that works hard and trusts each other.

Because at the end of the day, building a great team isn’t about being flawless. It’s about being human together – and hopefully, being humans who actually enjoy going to work on Mondays.

Paul D. Casey lives in the Tri-Cities and is the owner of Growing Forward Services, which aims to equip and coach leaders and teams to spark breakthrough success.