5 Bold Moves to Enhance Team Dynamics
- stephanie91998
- Apr 28
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago

There is Tuckman's: Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing for understanding the stages of team development. We also have Lencioni's 5 Dysfunctions of a team that breaks down what gets in the way of teams becoming successful. Daniel Pink provides the mental model around team and work with Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose. Many also reference Google's Project Aristotle that looked at why some teams were more successful than others. There are a lot of great resources and research behind team models and theories. We take that all into consideration and provide 5 bold moves or best practices we have encountered and used to enhance your team dynamics!
🤝Building Trust - This may look different for each team. We started to touch on this in our last blog. And we will emphasis this again as research can connect this element as a contributing factor or a barrier to the elements below.
🤔Why: Trust is one of many aspects that builds a space for collaboration. It can be a hard word to define but we all know when it is not there.
🎬How: Take dedicated time, as a team, to see each other as people. Not just over a lunch or dinner. Utilizes creative ways to learn about each other, here are some of our favorite resources!
📆When: This is not a one time activity, but should be a continuous process. But don't wait to make this a priority!
🫶🏽Team Purpose - Very much aligned with Daniel Pink's approach, we also believe that teams are stronger, when they have a purpose.
🤔Why: Often, when new teams form, we can assume that the purpose and vision are understood and aligned. And forget to spend time to develop together. Same can be true for mature or longer-standing teams, don't assume there is still the same understanding.
🎬How: If you haven't already, conduct a purpose workshop. If you already have one, check in to make sure its still aligned and resonates.
Explore many variations here: Team Building Community Templates | Miroverse
Team Canvas are popular methods, that can be found on Miroverse, Team Canvas and Strategyzer.
📆When: The key element here, is as a team, craft a team purpose (when needed vision and mission). Whether it is at the beginning of the set-up or year or project, check in once or twice a year to give guidance and inspiration and of course ensure its relevance.
🎯Common Target - This can be often overlooked as it is also assumed that the yearly targets for an organization are enough. From experience and work with clients, these often still need to be 'taken' down a few levels.
🤔Why: This allows the contributors in a team to see how their every day work or projects contribute to the overall success. Research also shows that when team members do not stand behind the same common goal, a lack of trust, transparency and willingness to cooperate can decrease.
🎬How: Here, we believe activities like OKRs or Agile (and various flavors in between) are great tools. MS Teams provides a great Planner board as well.
📆When: Of course, heading into a new year is ideal. But this can also be aligned through out the year or at the start of a new team or introduction of a project or team members.
🙋🏽Clear Roles & Responsibilities - A job title or job description is not always enough.
🤔Why: Job title or job descriptions can't not cover all aspects of the day to day work. Especially, if you have similar roles in the team. Avoid duplicate work, gaps and even things 'falling thru the cracks' but discussing this topic transparently as a team.
🎬How: We have had success with the following two approaches, especially when setting up new teams or addressing with a team when a new leader comes in.
'Design your ideal (insert role´s in team)' workshop. This can provide space for team members to visualize and communicate their expectations and understanding.
Decision Making Matrix or Governance exercise (e.g. RASIC, RAID, or DARE). Both are not to be used as 'written in stone' agreements but rather as initial discussions for clarity and guidelines.
📆When: Again, not an item on a check list but something that should be checked in on and reflected upon, adapting when needed.
🗣️ Transparent Communication - This topic may get addresses in some of the activities mentioned above or in our previous post. We wanted to again emphasis, as this critical.
🤔Why: We can all have different needs and ideas for what transparent communication means to how we work. This of course leads to different expectations and behaviors. As a team, get to an understanding of what that looks like and mean for the team.
🎬How: This can take habit building and a shift in mindset. Earlier this month we shared about setting a foundation and defining ways of working.
Including 'guidelines' for what is communicated when and where (e.g. teams often have multiple platforms to use).
Check in with Retro's to see what is working and what is not (sites like Miroverse and FunRetrospectives are places for inspiration).
Check out how to best utilize platforms in your organization (Teams, Slack, etc.)
📆When: After establishing what this means to the team members, leaders as well should be reflecting and staying true to sharing openly and honestly.
“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”
Henry Ford
Have something to add to these 5 Bold Moves? Add in the comments below👇🏽. We might even have some additions after our panel discussion tomorrow.
We share a lot of our favorite tools🛠️. Maybe there is still some uncertainty or questions you have to implement? Reach out and let's see how we can help. We offer complimentary advisory hours - find a timeslot that works for you - let's make bold moves together!
Resources used:
What Google Learned From Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team - The New York Times
Don't forget to read this: Team Building Mental Models — From Lencioni to Tuckman
Canva.com Magic Media
Dahl, Stephanie. 2023. Understanding Success Factors and Barriers to Effective Cross-Team Collaboration in an Agile Transformation. (Master Thesis)
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