The Teamwork Advantage

Teamwork: Your Greatest Competitive Advantage

Building on our recent conversations about trust as the foundation for unity and performance, it’s clear that the true differentiator for any team, whether in business, community leadership, or beyond, is trust. The cornerstone of any high-functioning team is trust. Trust is often misunderstood, but in the context of a cohesive team, it means this: Trust is the willingness to be completely vulnerable with each other. Trust is the confidence among team members that their intentions are good, with no need to be protective or careful around them.

In my consulting work, I use the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™ Assessment to help teams measure how well they build trust. Key indicators include whether team members acknowledge weaknesses, apologize, and seek input. When these behaviors are missing, the team must explore why and intentionally create a safe space for trust to grow.

Wiley, the creators of the Five Behaviors™ Assessment, highlight essential trust-building actions: reducing gossip, letting go of grudges, admitting mistakes, and understanding each other’s work styles. These habits build trust and create a healthier, more productive organizational culture. I’ve heard Zig Ziglar and Michael Hyatt emphasize, “What you measure, you can achieve.” What I love about the Five Behaviors™ for Teams assessment is that when an intact team uses this assessment, you can measure the progress 6 months later according to what is going well and what still needs work, helping you to achieve a better ROI on your learning development dollars.

When trust is absent, teams conceal mistakes, hesitate to help one another, and jump to negative conclusions. When trust is strong, teams admit weaknesses, ask for help, and forgive quickly. Imagine the energy saved—and the productivity gained—in a workplace where trust is the norm.

Trust doesn’t develop overnight; it takes consistent effort, shared experiences, and a genuine appreciation for each team member’s unique contributions. Yet with a focused, intentional approach, teams can dramatically accelerate trust-building and unlock the competitive advantage it brings.

ROI is here to help your team build that trust and unleash its true potential. Start by understanding yourself and each other better. Many of you know that I am a long-time authorized partner of the Everything DiSC® and Five Behaviors™ Assessments and programs. Check out our offering designed to make it easier to start building trust within your teams and across your workplace.