Great teams don’t just happen; they’re built, step-by-step. Here’s how to work better, together.

BY JUSTIN BARISO, AUTHOR, EQ APPLIED@JUSTINJBARISO

For Inc.

Photo: Getty Images

What makes a great team?

That’s the question I and five fellow researchers have been trying to answer for the past year and a half. Tasked with analyzing hundreds of teams for an international organization, we interviewed dozens of team members across the globe, as we embarked on a quest to identify why some teams work so well together while others struggle.

What we discovered has much to do with building an emotionally intelligent culture, one where people feel safe to be themselves and to express their true thoughts and feelings. At the same time, team members must get to know one another, and build a high level of trust and interdependence.

I know what you’re thinking. None of this is new–and you’re right.

But this is where it gets interesting.

The key to successful teamwork and collaboration is not so much recognizing where you need to go, but figuring out how to get there. In other words, what are the actions teammates need to take to build a balanced culture of psychological safety, trust, and high productivity?

Or, put more simply, what do you and your teammates need to increase your team’s chances at success?

Below, you’ll find eight key measures you can take that will increase your team’s ability to work well together–along with specific actions you can take, starting today. (If you find value in this lesson, you might be interested in my free course, which teaches you how to build emotional intelligence in yourself and your team.)

They set standards for communication

I love this one, because it’s so simple. Yet few teams actually do it.

Have you ever talked with your team (or family) about how long it should take to respond to a message? (Think email, text, or DM.)

Is it an hour? A day? Longer?

What about evenings? Or weekends?

You might think everyone is on the same page, but experience shows that people have different ideas–especially if the team is new (but some long-term teams, too) or from different backgrounds and cultures.

Try this: Come together to create a set of communication ground rules. Then, set the example in following them.

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