9 Powerful ways to build a cohesive team (that actually work)
As a leader, one of your biggest responsibilities isn’t just reaching goals, it’s building a team that works well together.
You might hit your targets sometimes and miss them other times. But when your team is united, they support each other, bounce back from challenges, and keep moving forward. A cohesive team works with trust, communicates openly, and helps each other succeed.
When your team works as one:
- Projects run more smoothly
- Misunderstandings are fewer
- Everyone feels more motivated and involved
But building this kind of team doesn’t happen by luck — it takes effort, clear communication, and the right approach.
In this blog, you will find nine powerful ways to build a cohesive team, practical steps that actually work. Whether you’re managing a new team or want to bring your current team closer, these tips will help you create a stronger, more connected team that works with, not just beside, each other.
9 ways to build a cohesive team
Cohesion doesn’t happen on its own. It takes effort and the right strategies to bring people together and help them function as one. Here are nine practical ways to build a truly cohesive team:
1. Build trust from the ground up
Building trust among team members should be your first priority. Without it, everything else you do will be less successful.
Trust allows team members to speak honestly, share ideas freely, and rely on one another without hesitation. It also helps team members believe that everyone is working toward the same goal and that no one will unfairly take credit or leave someone behind. To build trust that lasts:
- Be open and honest about decisions, goals, and challenges–don’t leave team members guessing.
- Don’t keep secrets or hide issues; secrecy creates distrust and communication barriers.
- Share updates and ideas regularly and keep everyone in the loop so no one is left out or misinformed.
2. Encourage open communication
A cohesive team thrives on open communication. It encourages team members to share ideas, keeps misunderstandings at bay, and strengthens alignment across the team. To encourage open communication:
- Use a centralised team collaboration software like ProofHub to keep conversations, updates, discussions, and announcements in one place.
- Set up daily stand-ups, weekly check-ins, or project update meetings. These meetings give everyone a regular space to share progress and voice concerns.
- Share key decisions and project updates openly. When leaders communicate clearly and consistently, it encourages the same behaviour across the team.
3. Clarify roles and responsibilities
A cohesive team functions best when every member understands their role, scope, and how their work connects with the organisation's goals. Clarity eliminates confusion and reduces overlap, making team collaboration more seamless. To clarify roles:
- Assign roles based on each team member’s strengths and weaknesses. Ensure the right person gets the right job.
- Use a RACI ( Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrix to assign responsibilities, which can also work. The matrix ensures that everyone in the team knows their roles, responsibilities, and the results expected of them.
- Document everything, like what was discussed, who’s in charge of what, and any changes made. This helps avoid confusion later and keeps everyone aligned.
4. Give and receive constructive feedback
Giving feedback shows you care. Receiving it shows you’re willing to grow. Doing both builds stronger teams.
It’s the point that most managers miss. While giving feedback is necessary, receiving feedback is also essential. Your team’s diverse perspectives will help you see things from different perspectives.
Whenever possible, implement their suggestions and adjust accordingly. If the feedback is not likely to be implemented for whatever reason, take the time to explain why you can’t follow it at this time. This shows your team that you value their thoughts.
5. Resolve conflicts as a team
Do not see conflicts as a problem; see them as an opportunity to strengthen team cohesion and intra-team relationships. Remember one thing here: even the best teams experience conflict at some point. It’s how teams resolve conflict that ultimately determines the team’s overall cohesiveness. To resolve conflicts:
- Don’t blame anyone. Focus on what went wrong, not who did it. Keep the conversation respectful and about the issue.
- Pay attention to what the other person is really saying. Ask questions if you’re not sure, so there are no misunderstandings before you share your thoughts.
- Approach the situation as a team problem, not a personal battle.
6. Practice team-building activities
Team-building isn’t just about fun; it’s about trust, communication, and connection. When done with purpose, it helps team members understand each other better and work together more easily.
Examples of team-building activities you can try (for in-house teams):
- Blind drawing
Two players sit back to back. One describes a hidden image using words only, and the other draws it based on the description.
- A truth and a lie
Each person shares three statements, two truths and one lie. Others guess which is the lie. Points are given for correct guesses, and the one with the highest score wins.
7. Invest in training and development
When team members are confident in their abilities, they feel more confident in sharing their ideas and communicate more effectively. This ultimately helps in building a cohesive team where everyone grows together. To invest in training:
- Share online courses, reading materials, or tools so team members can learn at their own pace.
- Focus on both technical and soft skills to boost individual and team performance.
- Allow team members some time for self-learning and reflection. Let them explore areas they want to grow in at their own pace.
8. Give time and space to build cohesion
Team cohesion doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and space for a relationship to grow naturally. A supportive environment that encourages informal conversations, team bonding, and mutual respect will gradually build stronger connections and trust within the team. To encourage time and space:
- Give your team breathing room between meetings and deadlines to allow casual conversations and informal bonding.
- Set up casual channels or coffee break rooms in your team collaboration tool to encourage non-work interactions.
- Give your team the freedom to get to know each other without forcing it.
9. Lead by example
A strong, connected team usually follows the behaviour of its leader. If you want your team to trust each other and work well together, you need to show them how. Team members look to their leader for cues on how to communicate, handle challenges, and treat one another. If you want your team to build trust, stay aligned, and work well together, you need to model those behaviours first. To lead by example
- Nobody is perfect. When you admit your own mistakes, it helps your team feel safe, to be honest and grow.
- Reply to messages and participate in team discussions. Your team will see that you care.
- Whether it’s a fun game or a casual chat, your participation shows that building strong relationships matters.
Conclusion
Team cohesion doesn’t happen by chance; it’s built with intention. It’s rare for a group of individuals to function as a high-performing unit instantly. As a leader, it’s your role to guide that process. You have to create an environment where trust grows, roles are clear, communication is open, and feedback flows both ways.
By practising the strategies shared in this blog — like team-building, conflict resolution, feedback exchange, and leading by example — you help your team become more connected and collaborative. The more cohesive your team is, the more confident, motivated, and productive they become.
To simplify the cohesive process, you can use team collaboration software like ProofHub. It brings everything, tasks, discussions, files, updates, and feedback into one shared space, so your team stays connected, informed, and aligned.
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