Building Effective Teams.
Matt Stover (I think) once said, “If we take ‘team’ out of ‘teamwork,’ then it’s just work, and who wants that?”
Exactly.
Because work without connection, without collaboration, without trust is just a grind.
Teams aren’t always easy.
They’re complicated. Messy. Frustrating. And, necessary.
True story.
Some of us believe teams are everything.
And some of us believe they are a burden.
Regardless of where you stand, one thing is clear: teams are a big part of how things get done.
Here’s what I’ve learned after three decades of building, leading, and coaching teams to succeed (and fail):
Teams are made of people. And people are messy. Great leaders embrace the mess.
The best way to lead is to love people—and also hold them accountable. Calling out the hard stuff is love in action.
Teams are not family. They are built for a season, bound by a purpose.
Compassion fuels performance more than competition. Get that balance wrong, and you’ll burn people out.
The most influential person on a team? The one who serves with humility.
Not all teams are equal. Diversity and imbalance are advantages—if you know how to use them.
Great teams don’t last forever. They grow, evolve, and move on. That’s a feature, not a bug.
Unhealthy teams shrink inward, get defensive, and keep others at arm’s length. That’s a slow death.
The best teams replicate themselves. They create space for others to step in and step up.
The most effective leaders? They surround themselves with people more talented than they are.
Leadership isn’t taught. It’s caught. You can’t study your way into it—you have to live it, fail, and learn.
If you’re on a team and don’t know why you’re there, leave. Hiding out helps no one.
The best teams operate under pressure, with something real on the line.
I’ll stop there.
One or two of these probably hit home for you. That’s your cue. Put pen to paper, reflect, and do something about it.
And if you need clarity?
Reach out.
It’s a conversation I love having.
And, don’t forget: great teamwork multiplies impact.
Always.
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Steve Knox | Kansas City
\\\ Thanks as always for reading. Take some time today and reflect on this one. It’s important. And, if you feel led to, please forward this out into your orbit. Much love. Be honest. Be you.