What Do The Best Teams Share?

In any setting where two or more people come together to achieve a common goal, the dynamics of teamwork come into play.

This could be a couple striving for a better relationship, a family seeking to strengthen their bonds, a work group aiming for success, or a sports team pursuing victory.

The best teams, regardless of their context, share three essential traits: they support, celebrate, and challenge each other.

These traits, underpinned by the behaviors of the CABLES model—Consistency, Appreciation, Belongingness, Listening, Empathy, and Specifics—create environments where teams can thrive.

Support

Support within a team means having each other’s backs, creating a reliable and trustworthy environment.

• Consistency: Imagine a sports team where the coach consistently shows up on time and prepared for practice. This consistency sets a standard that supports the team’s effort to be punctual and prepared. Similarly, in a family, when parents consistently follow through on promises, it builds trust and a sense of security, supporting each family member’s needs and well-being.
• Appreciation: In a work team, a manager who regularly acknowledges team members' hard work and contributions fosters a culture of mutual respect and support. In a relationship, partners who regularly express gratitude for each other’s efforts and presence strengthen their bond and mutual support.
• Belongingness: Creating traditions, like team dinners or family game nights, helps each member feel like a valued part of the group. In a work environment, involving everyone in team decisions ensures that each person feels included and supported.

Celebrate

Celebrating each other means recognizing contributions and uniqueness, and being genuinely happy for each other's successes.

• Appreciation: Celebrating individual and team achievements, such as awarding ‘Player of the Game’ or recognizing project completions with team outings, enhances morale and acknowledges contributions. In a relationship, celebrating personal achievements together strengthens the bond and acknowledges each partner’s individual growth.
• Belongingness: In a family, celebrating birthdays and accomplishments like graduations brings everyone together and reinforces the importance of each member. In a relationship, celebrating milestones and successes shows that each person’s efforts are valued.
• Listening: Actively listening to a colleague’s ideas during meetings or a partner’s thoughts and feelings shows respect and value for their perspective, making them feel celebrated.

Challenge

Challenging each other means pushing each other to be the best versions of themselves, contributing to the overall success of the team.

• Empathy: A sports team captain who empathizes with teammates’ struggles can provide encouragement and constructive feedback, challenging them to improve while understanding their perspective. In a family, parents who empathize with their children's academic or personal struggles can provide guidance and challenge them to overcome obstacles in a supportive manner.
• Specifics: In a work team, setting clear, specific goals for performance and providing detailed feedback helps team members understand what is expected and how they can improve. In a relationship, being specific about expectations and boundaries helps partners support each other’s growth, challenging them to be their best selves.
• Consistency: Consistent training regimens in sports or consistently upholding values like hard work and honesty in a family challenge each member to embody these principles in their daily lives.

Reflecting on Your Role

Reflect on your behaviors and whether you are being the best teammate in your context. Are you consistently supporting, celebrating, and challenging those around you? Consider these thought-provoking examples:

1. Support: When was the last time you went out of your way to help a colleague or family member? Do you consistently follow through on promises, building trust and reliability?
2. Celebrate: How often do you recognize and celebrate the achievements of others? Do you genuinely share in their joy, or do you overlook their contributions?
3. Challenge: Are you providing constructive feedback and encouragement to help others grow? Do you set clear expectations and hold yourself and others accountable to them?

By integrating the behaviors of the CABLES model into your daily interactions, you can foster an environment where support, celebration, and challenge coexist, leading to stronger, more effective teams in every aspect of life. Whether you’re part of a couple, a family, a work group, or a sports team, these principles can guide you to be a better teammate and achieve shared goals more effectively.