Building a Strong Team Culture: Get Everyone Involved
Steven Menzel
Senior L&D Product Specialist - People and culture development through personalized training and coaching, highlighting each individual's uniqueness.
Team culture doesn’t just happen. It’s something that must be actively created, nurtured, and sustained. If you don’t take the lead in establishing a positive culture, the people you hire will—and that’s not always a good thing.
A strong, cohesive team culture begins with identifying the key attributes you want everyone to rally around. Traits like dependability, integrity, and initiative are powerful pillars that can elevate any team. However, it’s important to get your team’s input. People are more likely to embrace and embody a culture they’ve helped shape.
Once you’ve identified your core traits, don’t just stop there. Define them, talk about them, and integrate them into everything you do. These values should become part of your daily conversations, decisions, and actions. When your team members embody these traits, celebrate it! Recognition goes a long way in reinforcing positive behavior.
On the flip side, you’ll need to have those tough conversations when someone is not living up to these values. Holding people accountable isn’t easy, but it’s necessary to maintain the integrity of your culture.
And perhaps the most powerful aspect of all: lead by example. Your team is watching, and how you carry yourself will set the tone. We’re all human, and we all make mistakes—but how you handle your own missteps is just as important as the values you uphold. Owning your failures and correcting course demonstrates the kind of integrity and initiative you want your team to embody.
In the end, team culture is built through consistent action and involvement from everyone. Be intentional, stay committed, and watch your team thrive.