In business, you’re only as strong as your team. Whether you’re leading a start-up in Halifax or managing a growing company in Vancouver, one thing holds: a winning team doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built, nurtured, and led with intention.
At Avid Business Performance Group, we’ve worked with hundreds of Canadian businesses, and the patterns are clear. Teams that consistently perform at a high level share six key traits.
Let’s break down the 6 keys to building a winning team, and how you can apply them in your business, no matter the size or industry.
1. Strong Leadership
It all starts at the top. Great teams need great leaders who communicate clearly, lead by example, and inspire confidence, especially when times get tough.
Without strong leadership, teams flounder. People lack direction, trust crumbles, and performance suffers.
What it looks like in action:
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- Leaders who are present, not just available
- Transparent communication
- Making tough decisions with clarity and compassion
Avid Tip:
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about asking the right questions, creating accountability, and staying aligned with your values.
2. Common Goals
You’d be surprised how many teams are working hard… in completely different directions. A winning team knows exactly where they’re going and why.
Common goals create unity, motivation, and measurable progress.
What it looks like in action:
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- Clear business objectives that everyone understands
- Team members know how their role contributes
- Alignment between individual goals and the company vision
In diverse, multi-generational workplaces, such as many across Canada, shared goals help bridge cultural and communication gaps.
Avid Tip:
Review and reinforce team goals regularly, especially during change or growth.
3. Rules of the Game
No team wins without understanding the rules. Think of this as your team’s playbook values, expectations, and standards that guide behavior.
When everyone knows what’s expected, performance becomes consistent, and conflicts are easier to manage.
What it looks like in action:
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- Defined values and cultural expectations
- A clear code of conduct or team agreement
- Leaders modeling the rules themselves
Avid Tip:
Involve your team in setting the “rules of the game.” Co-created values create more buy-in and accountability.
4. Action Plan
Dreams are great but without a plan, they’re just that. Winning teams don’t just talk strategy they take action with purpose.
An action plan turns vision into movement.
What it looks like in action:
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- Clear roles and responsibilities
- Weekly or monthly goals
- Systems for tracking progress
Avid Tip:
Use the 90-day planning model we teach at Avid Business Performance Group. It’s bite-sized, focused, and keeps your team agile.
5. Support Risk Taking
Innovation doesn’t happen in a comfort zone. Winning teams are encouraged to try, fail, learn, and try again.
If your team is afraid to speak up or try new things, you’re leaving growth on the table.
What it looks like in action:
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- Leaders encouraging new ideas
- Celebrating learning from failure, not just success
- Creating a safe environment to take calculated risks
In more conservative business cultures, especially in finance or government sectors, this may feel unnatural but fostering safe-to-fail innovation is a game changer.
Avid Tip:
Start small. Celebrate bold ideas in team meetings. Model risk-taking as a leader.
6. 100% Inclusion & Involvement
If only a few people are pulling the weight, your team isn’t winning, it’s surviving. True team success happens when everyone is engaged, empowered, and contributing.
What it looks like in action:
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- Equal voice in meetings
- Shared ownership of outcomes
- Recognizing individual strengths and input
Avid Tip:
Don’t assume silence means agreement. Check in with quieter team members. Inclusion isn’t just about presence, it’s about participation.
Real Talk: What Happens Without These 6 Keys?
Let’s keep it real when one or more of these elements is missing, things fall apart. You might notice:
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- Team drama or politics
- High turnover
- Missed deadlines
- Stagnant performance
- Leaders are constantly putting out fires
The good news? You can turn it around. With the right mindset, strategy, and support, any team can transform into a high-performing unit.
How Avid Business Performance Group Helps Build Winning Teams
At Avid Business Performance Group, we coach Canadian entrepreneurs, leaders, and managers on how to unlock the full potential of their teams.
We help you:
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- Identify strengths and blind spots in your team dynamic
- Align your team around a clear vision and values
- Build systems of accountability that drive performance
- Empower your people to lead, contribute, and grow
Whether you’re scaling up, navigating change, or just trying to build a more unified team, our coaching programs are designed to give you real tools and real results.
FAQs About Building Winning Teams
Q: What if I have a few toxic team members?
A: Culture is contagious. Address issues directly and quickly. One bad apple can spoil the bunch, but great leadership can course-correct.
Q: How do I keep remote or hybrid teams aligned?
A: Strong communication and shared goals matter more than ever. Use weekly check-ins, digital dashboards, and culture-building practices even online.
Q: We’re a small team. Do these rules still apply?
A: Absolutely. In fact, small teams benefit most from strong foundations, it’s easier to scale when the structure is already in place.
Final Thoughts: Teams Win Together or Not at All
The best leaders know that business success is a team sport. You can’t do it all yourself and you shouldn’t try.
So, whether you’re starting fresh or rebuilding a struggling team, focus on these six keys:
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- Strong Leadership
- Common Goals
- Rules of the Game
- Action Plan
- Support Risk-Taking
- 100% Inclusion & Involvement
And if you’re not sure where to begin, Avid Business Performance Group is here to help.
Ready to Build a Winning Team?
Book your free discovery call with Avid Business Performance Group and start building the team you’ve always wanted, one step (and one conversation) at a time.
