Team culture is made up of values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors shared by a team. It’s how people work together towards a common goal and how they treat each other. These attributes might be positive or they could be negative.
A positive, or good team culture, is one in which team members collaborate, communicate, and support one another. These teams strive together to improve the collective performance of the group. During this process, they also experience a competitive environment within the team. Consequently, it’s a combination of a collaborative and a competitive environment.
Another important attribute of a good team culture is trust. When there is trust there is an understanding the team members and coaches are working together for a common cause. Furthermore, the team members or employees in an organization, accept accountability. They are willing to take direction, yet they also are responsible about practicing or working autonomously when given the chance.
Proper communication skills are also important within a team culture environment. How do you treat each other? There is one word to best describe this and it is “respect.” The coaches and players must communicate in a respectful way in words, tone, and body language with each other (player to coach; player to player). At the same time, the players must understand and respect the role of the coach. For example, the players must understand and hopefully appreciate, that the coach or coaches must lead. The coaches are there to be your coach, care about team members as people, and yet not be your best friend.
In a good team culture, if someone feels uncomfortable they’re able to speak up because they know that trust exists within the team or organization. Team members should feel comfortable to approach the coach about a concern and vice versa. There is no need to get defensive when trust exists and you value each other. This is a life skill that transcends the athletic field or the work environment.
To develop a positive and good team culture each team member/coach/employee should keep in mind the common goal, the importance of striving together, the willingness to take ownership of that process, and the value of having a united team.