Real Teamwork: Beyond Pizza Parties and Small Talk

Strong teams are defined not by their social outings but by their ability to face challenges together. This understanding sparked the development of the Cohesive Team Deck.

Consider this: is mere friendliness a true measure of a team’s strength? Often, it can obstruct the necessary, difficult discussions. I’ve observed in various client meetings how teams dodge disagreements. It usually starts with everyone nodding or commenting in agreement until someone offers a divergent view and is met with silence—as if they’ve broken an unspoken rule. Unfortunately, many teams opt for comfort and congeniality over the growth that comes from challenging each other.

Cohesive teams recognize that their collective success is more important than the comfort levels of individual members. They’re capable of tackling challenges, questioning the usual ways of doing things, and growing together towards a significant, shared aim. This doesn’t mean being harsh or inconsiderate but rather being open to introspection and improvement for the benefit of the group.

That’s why we motivate leaders to cultivate teams of dynamic problem solvers, not just a group of friends. When a team taps into its collective strength, they can bridge the gap from their current reality to their aspirations. True teamwork is about achieving meaningful goals together, not merely getting along.