I’m Chad Littlefield, and after employing these strategies with well over 100,000 people, I’ve figured out what actually works (and what doesn’t). In this post, I’ll share my top five strategies for building strong, sustainable teams at work.
Instead of cramming everything into a one-day team retreat, these strategies are designed to fit into your daily workflow so they don’t feel like a burden or a distraction. Think of them as “five ingredients for engagement” or “five locations for contribution.”
1. Start with an Unofficial Start
Too often in meetings, we reward lateness by waiting for people to show up. That dead time leads to thumb-twiddling and last-minute email checking.
Instead, try what my friend Mark Collard calls an unofficial start. Begin a few minutes before the official start with something designed to spark immediate engagement.
This could be:
- A thoughtful icebreaker question tied to the day’s topic
- A 60-second research challenge (“Find one fact about today’s topic and share it”)
- A quick round of insights or reflections
This way, you respect people’s time, create purposeful contribution, and make those “waiting minutes” meaningful.
Looking for ready-to-use icebreaker question cards? Check out the We! Connect Cards.
2. Use a Context Hook
The first 60 seconds of a meeting often shapes the next 60 minutes. Even though you’re on the same call, everyone comes in with a different context, different rooms, distractions, moods, and priorities.
A context hook brings everyone into the same moment. The easiest way to do this? Get clear on the why.
For example:
- Instead of “We meet every Monday,” say:
“We’re reporting out what happened last week so that everyone feels less confused this week.”
That “so that” statement aligns intent with purpose and invites meaningful engagement.
3. Create Connection Before Content
This one feels like cheating because it works so well. Before diving into tasks, intentionally connect people to:
- Each other (the human beings, not just the human doings)
- The purpose of why you’re meeting
- A space where authenticity and truth are welcome
How? Split into small groups of three. Ask a single powerful question that meets those three criteria. After 7–12 minutes of discussion, regroup and ask: “What struck you?” or “What did you notice?”
Doing this a few times a month builds stronger teams than a week of bowling or rafting ever could. It’s sustainable, repeatable, and woven into the natural rhythm of work.
If you want to master this skill, check out the Connection Before Content Masterclass.
4. Reframe Your Content as Team Building
Team building doesn’t always mean games or retreats. Simply doing work together is team building, just like cooking a meal together forces collaboration, conflict resolution, and shared accomplishment.
Here are two ways to build connection through content:
- Reaction Commercial Breaks: Pause during discussions and invite everyone to reflect on their reaction. Ask, “What’s your response to this right now?” Popcorn out quick reflections before continuing.
- Connection Through Content: If one or two people are dominating, pause to pull in quieter voices and invite multiple perspectives.
This practice strengthens teams while moving the work forward.
5. End with Intention (Not Stress)
If you want a burnt-out team, rush every meeting until the last second, then send people sprinting into their next call.
The alternative? End early, with intention. Three easy options:
- Closing Reflections – Have everyone write one sentence summarizing their takeaway, then share it out.
- Future Reminders – Encourage participants to set a reminder for when an action item will actually be relevant (next week, next month, next year).
- Study Hall Time – Use the last 10 minutes to do the work in the room. Clear action items so the meeting doesn’t spill into the rest of the day.
Amazon even uses this “study hall” approach, carving out meeting time for reading and focused work so tasks don’t pile up later.
These five strategies – Unofficial Starts, Context Hooks, Connection Before Content, Connection Through Content, and Intentional Endings are designed to weave team building seamlessly into everyday work. No trust falls required.
Want practical tools to put these ideas into action? Download our FREE resources toolkit filled with printable icebreaker cards, book excerpts, and exclusive discounts.
