Top 8 Tips to Build a Successful Team

Here at PaySauce, we’re all about being a better boss.

And we couldn’t think of a better ‘boss’ to spill the sauce about building a successful team than Alando Soakai, Head Coach of the Mills Albert Wellington Lions.

We sat down with Soaks just before he guided the Lions to the 2024 Bunnings NPC title and got his top tips on building a successful team.

1. Understand the person before the player

The way I see rugby - it's a people business, and the rugby is the by-product.

It's really important to understand the person before the player. Once you understand the person, how they can cope in an environment, how they receive feedback, how they get on with others, and the skillsets and values they bring to the table, then you can start building that into your team environment. And when you need to find a certain skill set, if you can track down missing pieces for your puzzle, and create the best team possible.

2. Make your communication effective

Communication… it's a skill! And it's a skill where you’ll have moments when you don’t get it right.

Sometimes you may miss the mark, and that’s okay, but be clear and assertive in your communication and seek the opportunity to reinforce it for those who may not have understood it. A big part of communication in a team is finding the guys that haven't quite got it, reinforcing it, having some leaders as a soundboard, and allowing them to send out those important messages. It’s also key to allow your team members to communicate too. They may be able to help solve a problem! Finding a consistent, common language that is quick to communicate is also helpful in building trust and connection with your team.

3. Peer-led is powerful

The leaders see it and feel it. I see it and feel it, yes, but the players are the ones in that locker room, and a lot happens in the locker room!

Your team members are the ones in the thick of it. They know the environment inside out and are often the ones that deal with any issues that arise in your organisation. Allowing them to take the lead and problem-solve can be a really powerful tool to take the next step and grow as a unit. Their feedback can be invaluable when trying to solve any issues that you might not be able to see first-hand.

4. Be upfront with your feedback

It’s about understanding that relationship, and the dynamic around giving your feedback and how the boys receive it. You have to deliver feedback by acknowledging a player may be upset, but knowing what is best for the team, and what is best for the player.

Honest feedback should come from a place of care and a place of growth. Understanding your team’s dynamic is key to knowing when to give them feedback at the appropriate times, and when to hold back. Focus on the performance, not the player, and be kind and respectful when giving feedback and if you give it, you’ve got to be able to take it too!

5. There are always going to be conflicts. Be honest and talk about it

It’s important to be really clear at the start of the year about our values and stick to them in moments of conflict. If there's a conflict or a dispute, the key is to sit down and chat about it.

When there’s a dispute, it’s helpful to be clear about your values and stick to them. Use your team to receive feedback about what’s working and what isn’t so you’ve covered your bases and have the best intentions for your team in mind.

6. A team is a living thing. Nurture and feed it well, and it will grow

A rugby team during a season has a lot of moving parts to it. It's a living thing with its ups and downs, but if you nurture it, it keeps growing. If you don't, that living thing starts to die.

Getting the right coaches, management and players who feel this is crucial to achieving your goals. Stay true to your values, remember where you’ve come from, maintain your standards, and keep up the positivity.

Growing as a team is about understanding where you're currently, but looking to chase improvement. If you get too comfortable, everything's going sweet, and you keep doing what you’re doing, then you're going to stay there. Momentum is about learning where the growth is. Yes, we won, but where’s the part of our game where we can get better? If you get that right, you're going to get to the next level.

7. Trust is a shared responsibility

Trust is also a shared responsibility because they've got to trust me in what I deliver, but then I've also got to trust them with what they want, so there's a two-way process there.

It’s a two-way street. You want to trust your staff and team to do the right thing, but you, the boss, must do the right thing too. Listen, walk the talk, encourage and empower your team to build that bridge between you and your team. You reap what you sow!

8. Reflect on your performance and find moments to grow

There’s a saying that “success leaves clues”, but it also can go the other way because failures leave clues too. You can look back and ask: How was the prep? What was missing here?

You can be upset if things don’t go to plan, but stay resilient. If you keep doing what you’re doing, even if it’s good enough, there is no room to grow. Take what you’ve learnt and create productive solutions to keep going forward.

Cheers to the team at Wellington Lions!

We’re stoked that our mates at Wellington Lions gave us the time to chat with Soaks. It’s clear that they have the winning formula, so we know your business can do the same!