Everybody seems to have an opinion on the England men’s football team right now. How can a collection of some of the best individual male footballers scrape through games rather than blowing the opposition away? Perhaps they haven’t yet properly gelled as a team? Must be the manager? Maybe he hasn’t got the balance right on the pitch? We have a weak defence. We’re playing too far back.

Then there’s the new team in government. On Friday the outgoing PM took full responsibility for the failure of his team. They got their approach wrong. They didn’t listen to the people who put trust in them. The new PM looks to be all about recognising that building an effective team is the way forward. So far his rhetoric is all about servant leadership, collaboration, listening, community and working with experts in their field. Collaborating in a diverse team brings unique perspectives and drives innovation and growth. That will be important for the new team in government in working towards their goal of healing the divisions in the country, taking care of people and bringing hope and opportunity to all.

I’ve worked in some great teams where there is trust, effective communication, things get done and team goals are achieved. Equally I’ve come across teams where productivity is low and morale even lower, people undermine each other, managers micromanage, dominate and criticise and endless meetings become a substitute for actual work.

Effective teams are greater than the sum of their parts. Just as an individual can achieve a state of flow when they become lost in the things they do, time passes, they forget to eat and are totally absorbed in what they are doing, so too can teams when they feel in sync with the rest of the team and tasks get done almost effortlessly. But how do we achieve that?

In reflecting on what makes an effective team there are three key elements, in my opinion.

1. Diversity – difference is good but only when it is recognised and valued.
2. Open and honest communication – both up and down the chain of command. It’s not all about the leader and it’s important that members of the team pay attention to one another.
3. Clearly defined goals where everyone feels invested.

Teaching is a team sport – it’s far too stressful to go it alone in schools these days. Whether that is sharing resources or strategies for working with challenging behaviour or in the way you approach the two year project of getting a group of thirty-plus teenagers through their GCSE examinations. When leading study skills sessions for GCSE and A Level students my first session is ‘Build Your Team’ – collecting together the group of people who are going to work with you to support your study success.

Despite being comfortable in an academic environment, my most memorable experiences at school and university were with the teams I was part of – sporting, drama and musical. The skills I developed as a result of being part of a team are what REALLY set me up for the rest of my life. The same is true for my children.

On the surface counselling is quite an isolated role, unless you are running group therapy sessions. That’s one reason why I’m looking forward to joining a local cooperative of solution-focused practitioners who will support each other’s work, share best practice and join together in delivering sessions for schools and workplaces. I’m also looking to collaborate with a range of diverse professionals in running some creative sessions for teenagers. Together we can transform support for the mental wellbeing of young people in Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset. But in the meantime, if you or your children have the opportunity to be part of a team, take it and work towards making it one where there are clear goals, where diversity is valued, where communication is open and honest.

If you’s like to know more about sessions with me, make a booking or would like to collaborate, get in touch.