Building cohesive teams is not something that happens overnight. There is no magic bullet. It takes time, effort, and the laying of a solid foundation built on trust and many other leadership principles. To discuss this topic, I’ve hand-picked a panel of leaders with a demonstrated track record of building cohesive teams. Joining me from the healthcare industry are leaders Eileen McCay, Jim Lajeunesse, and Matt McDonald.

• Firstly, build mutual respect and trust within the team
• Hire a very diverse team; people who think differently from you and each other
• Be a leader who genuinely cares but also brings tough love when needed
• Demonstrate vulnerability by admitting mistakes. This will foster an environment of trust
• Set clear expectations, at the individual and team level, on how to approach each other as a team
• Set high standards for your team
• Part of the having great team unity involves team members who engage in healthy conflict with each other
• There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes at the individual level that builds to the greater collective
• Identify and leverage your people's strengths
• If there's a problem on the team, there is an expectation that you, as the leader, will fix it. And fix it soon!

• Workshop Resources for your team(s)
• 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team Workshop Overview
• The 5 Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, by Pat Lencioni