Team Building: Where Culture and Execution Collide
- Nick Leach
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Let’s be honest. Most organisations say they value teamwork.But far fewer actually build teams intentionally.
We hire great individuals. We run team-building activities. We say, “We’re all in this together.”Yet, when performance lags or people disengage, we’re surprised.
Here’s the truth:Team building isn’t about bonding. It’s about building the engine that drives your purpose.
If your purpose is the destination, then your teams are the vehicle. And if the engine isn’t running smoothly, you won’t get very far.
The Most Overlooked Step in Team Building: Trust
But not the soft kind. I’m talking about the ability to:
• Have hard conversations without fear• Own mistakes without blame• Challenge ideas without ego
Trust isn’t just a feeling. It’s a function of how your team operates. And it’s something you build with intention and consistency.
A Model That Works
In Leading on Purpose, I share a framework I use with leadership teams across industries: the Drexler/Sibbet Team Performance Model®.
It outlines seven stages a team must move through to achieve high performance:
Orientation – Why are we here
Trust Building – Who are you
Goal Clarification – What are we doing
Commitment – How will we do it
Implementation – Who does what
High Performance – Let’s go
Renewal – What’s next
When you skip a stage, you’ll feel the consequences later. Most teams jump straight to action without building trust or clarity first. That’s when cracks begin to show.
Team Building is Culture in Action
Your purpose doesn’t live in a strategy document. It lives in your people.And those people work in teams.
So if you want your purpose to be more than just words, you must:
• Create clarity: Why are we here and what are we trying to achieve• Build trust: Invest early so you can move faster later• Maintain momentum: Celebrate progress and keep the team focused
High-performing teams don’t just deliver better results. They bring energy, innovation, and loyalty. They make work a place people want to be.
Final Thought: Build Teams Like You Mean It
Team building isn’t an optional exercise. It’s a strategic priority.
If you’re leading people, ask yourself:
• Are we clear on our shared purpose• Are we aligned on what success looks like• Do we trust each other enough to say what needs to be said
If not, don’t wait for the next offsite. Start now. Because building great teams is not just good leadership. It’s the only way to lead on purpose.
Let’s get building.
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