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For a leader hoping to foster a more cohesive and productive team, creating a roadmap for team building can be a fruitful exercise. This process requires that the leader gain a clear understanding of the team’s collective goals, strengths and weaknesses so that they can tailor strategies that will effectively promote collaboration and mutual respect.
A successful roadmap to a strong team includes achievable milestones that will encourage team engagement and growth, as well as feedback mechanisms to help individuals adapt and refine their approaches as needed. Below, 16 Forbes Coaches Council members share strategies to help leaders build a team-building strategy and why it’s important to do so.
1. Evaluate Your Current State
First, evaluate your current state by evaluating the team and its members. Second, clearly define the team objectives—they must be actionable. Third, create a feedback loop—communication and collaboration are imperative for successful teams. Once these are in place, you can then develop strategies for conflict resolution, recognition and rewards, as well as ongoing assessment of the team’s performance. - Jessica Miller-Merrell, Workology
2. Create A Safe Space To Share Ideas
A leader is responsible for creating trust and a safe space where people can speak up and use their strengths and talents. The most effective team building is also co-designed by the members. When folks are involved, they are more engaged. Take the time to get ideas and share the leadership. - Wendy Hanson, New Level Work
3. Have Patience And A Plan
A roadmap for effective team building requires planning and patience. My client committed to an 18-month plan to train her department on a team assessment. She knew that due to budget, it would take time—but she laid out a process that resulted in her department being fluent and aligned on a methodology that helps them communicate, plan and execute their work. Patience and planning paid off! - Jill Helmer, Jill Helmer Consulting
4. Provide The Right Levels Of Core Ingredients
The best leaders provide the right levels of the core ingredients that spark humans to do their best work. Those core human ingredients are clarity, autonomy, relationships and equity. These four elements are simply brain cravings every human has had since the dawn of time that enable us to survive and perform. Give teams the right levels of these four ingredients, and they will surpass expectations. - Alex Draper, DX Learning Solutions
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5. Understand Individual Strengths And Weaknesses
First, understand the individual strengths and weaknesses of each team member. This entails open communication, setting clear goals and fostering a culture of trust and respect. It’s about connecting individual roles to the larger vision, ensuring each team member sees how their contributions matter. Regular feedback and recognition enhance team positivity and belonging. - Pascal Bachmann, Strategy Achievers LLC
6. Create A Three-Month Plan
Create a short-term roadmap of no longer than three months since things change so quickly in today’s world. Highlight a few bulleted items—activities in each month that the team will try. Better yet, have team members brainstorm ideas for team building and then take a vote. The top winners will make the roadmap. Make sure that the roadmap remains flexible; if something doesn’t work, pivot. - Stacey Ackerman, NavigateAgile
7. Understand The Landscape Of Strengths And Opportunities
Creating a successful roadmap requires that a leader first knows the current team landscape of strengths and opportunities. The next step is to get crystal clear on what a high-performing team looks like for this group. Doing this work allows you to create a holistic roadmap that is broken up by quarters and enhances both relational and technical skills included in the experience. - Sohee Jun, S.J. Consulting, LLC
8. Know The People On Your Team
To effectively build a team, a leader needs to have a strong understanding of the people that comprise it. Successful leaders have a working knowledge of the strengths of their team members and a sense of how each can support their vision and the company’s business objectives. With such information, leaders can develop a roadmap to unify a team and navigate it to achieve corporate goals. - Kathryn Lancioni, Presenting Perfection
9. Focus On Safe Learning Instead Of Blame
Effective team building requires three parts: heart, direction and action. Many team-building initiatives lack at least one. For heart, ask the team: “How would you rate us as a team from zero to five? What impact would us being at five have on you?” Direction: “What three outcomes would get us to a five?” Action: “What five habits will get us to a five?” Focus on safe learning versus blame, and you will get there, together. - Maureen Cunningham, Up Until Now Inc.
10. Conduct A SWOT Analysis
A simple tool I recommend leaders use always is SWOT analysis. An ideal scenario is one where team members complement each other and can bridge gaps without needing the leader. When your team can operate effectively by leveraging each other’s strengths, internal assets and resources, then you know you have built an effective team. - Adewale Bello, Biz-Agility Consulting
11. Use The ‘Three Horizons’ Model
The best tool I’ve used as a team coach to support this conversation is the “Three Horizons” model by Bill Sharpe. This model includes strategic visioning, planning and execution. It begins with the end in mind (visioning) and gradually evolves to define required tactics and responsibilities. When done well, it provides the team with a plan where the actions support the achievement of the vision. - Lisa Walsh, Beacon Executive Coaching
12. Facilitate Cross-Mentorships
Cross-mentorships swap roles between team members for a day, providing firsthand exposure to each other’s responsibilities. This immersive experience builds practical knowledge and empathy about colleagues’ daily challenges that long-voiced frustrations stem from. Facilitated debriefs then crystallize key takeaways about the on-the-ground realities behind roles, dissolving past misinterpretations. - Devika Das, CORE Executive Presence
13. Be Clear On Your Team’s Purpose
First, be clear on the purpose of your team. What is it there to accomplish? Ask your members what they see as their strengths and challenges in accomplishing that purpose. Then, work collectively with your team to develop a plan to build on the strengths and address the challenges as much as possible. Do this with them, not by yourself. This will build buy-in. - Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, MCC, ABPP, Clear Impact Consulting Group
14. Define Your ‘Why’
Define your “why” and the team’s purpose and goals. What needs do you want to address—for example, trust or challenges? Map your milestones and identify key team-building phases. Choose the right tools and leverage technology to promote remote team connection. Embed team building in everyday work; celebrate successes and milestones together. Measure and adapt; track progress toward your goals through feedback loops. - Richard Chiumento, The Rialto Consultancy
15. Be Vulnerable And Candid
Share yourself—warts and all. Be vulnerable; you’ll gain the team’s trust and respect. Allow the team opportunities to build trust with each other. Help them believe in the vision and imagine how success will feel. Discuss expectations and how the team will work out issues. Help people stay on track; empower team members to help each other stay on track. Have candid conversations. Celebrate! - Laurie Sudbrink, Unlimited Coaching Solutions, Inc.
16. Share The Map
A roadmap has several details, including the “terrain” (environment), “route” (path) and “destination” (goal). Too often, leaders don't share the map, creating confusion and dysfunction. Share the map! Be clear about what type of team you are building. Be forthright about the situation. Give details about the route. And keep everyone (including yourself) focused on working toward the goal. - Adam Cubbage, Center Point Leadership Development
