Building And Maintaining A Team Culture That Inspires

Choosing a team is like choosing your circle of friends. Every group has a unique energy that makes them special. While friendships can come naturally at first, they take work to maintain, develop, and evolve—just like building a successful team. It’s not just about hiring the right person; it’s about hiring someone who aligns with the team’s or business’s core values.

So, how do you create a team culture that fosters growth and belonging? It starts by establishing your culture first. When you know what your culture stands for, you can build a team that brings it to life. Culture is a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that define an organization. It’s not just what you say—it's what you do. It shows up in how teams communicate, solve problems, celebrate wins, and handle conflict.

Start With The Right Environment

I’ve spent most of my career in what I call “shmedium” companies—those that are large enough to have structure and resources, but small enough for people to be known by name and have a voice. These companies often have room to challenge and improve their culture regularly. That said, size doesn’t determine culture—leadership does. Culture starts at the top. It is most effective when leaders model it consistently. If the tone isn’t set by leadership, it won’t stick. A strong culture requires leading by example at every level of the organization.

Empower Leaders at Every Level

In any company, managers guide departments, but true culture champions exist beyond management. A healthy culture empowers informal leaders—those who lead by influence, not title. These individuals foster inclusion by getting to know their peers and recognizing everyone’s value. They celebrate personal and professional differences and encourage diverse perspectives. They help create growth opportunities by promoting cross-training, mentorship, and shared learning.

Make Culture Tangible

Great culture isn’t just seen—it’s felt. It shows up in everyday interactions and can even be measured through employee retention. People who feel valued and engaged tend to stay. Culture is actionable. It means supporting both underperformers and high-achievers. While struggling team members often demand attention, thriving ones need it too. Balancing support ensures everyone has a safe place to grow—even if progress happens at different speeds.

Balance Skills & Team Fit

Building a dynamic team is hard work. You need to evaluate both hard skills (technical ability) and soft skills (communication, empathy, adaptability). But there’s another crucial factor: how well someone fits into your existing team dynamic.

I once took a personality assessment for a leasing role and was told I wouldn’t mesh well with a peer. At the time, I was offended. Years later, I worked with that same person in a different company—this time, we were both managers. It became clear: we were both strong-willed and would have clashed in similar roles early on in our careers, but as peers in a manager role, we challenged and inspired each other. That experience taught me the importance of team chemistry—not just capability.

Sometimes, you meet someone with perfect soft skills but lacking in experience. Then the question becomes: Do you have the time and resources to train them? Can you do so without burdening the team? These decisions directly impact culture and must be made with care.

Make Culture The Foundation of Every Decision

Never let the urgency to fill a role outweigh the need to preserve your culture. When you establish your values early, they can guide every hiring decision, daily task, and interpersonal interaction. Culture becomes the common thread that connects leadership, teams, and departments.

As Richard Branson once said: “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” That’s the essence of great culture. Take care of your people, and they’ll take care of your business.
Build your team like you build your inner circle—intentionally, thoughtfully, and with care. That’s where culture thrives. And that’s where growth begins.