Communication is open, honest and respectful. People feel free to express their thoughts, opinions, and potential solutions to problems. People feel as if they are heard out and listened to by team members who are attempting to understand.

Team members have a strong sense of belonging to the group. They experience a deep commitment to the group’s decisions and actions. This sense of belonging is enhanced and reinforced when the team spends the time to develop team norms or relationship guidelines together.

Creativity, innovation, and different viewpoints are expected and encouraged. The team members recognize that the strength in having a team is that every member brings diverseness to the effort to solve a problem, improve a process, reach a goal, or create something new and exciting.

The team is able to constantly examine itself and continuously improve its processes, practices, and the interaction of team members. The team openly discusses team norms and what may be hindering its ability to move forward and progress in areas of effort, talent, and strategy.

Team members are viewed as unique people with irreplaceable experiences , points of view, knowledge, and opinions to contribute. After all, the purpose of forming a team is to take advantage of the differences. 

You can significantly increase the chances of the teams that you join or oversee to make needed contributions. Given appropriate support and nurture , teams can succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Don't let anything hold you back as you help your teams succeed.