What is an Intentional Team™?
You might, at some point, have experienced what it feels like to be part of a high-functioning team. Perhaps as a member of a winning sports team? Or when you were in a band or orchestra? Or when you were part of a theatre group? Or perhaps in a religious group, a scout group, the military or maybe in an early-stage business?
The experience is unforgettable, isn’t it? You achieve more than you ever could alone and there is an exhilarating sense of support and shared accomplishment.
These experiences are generally fleeting – but they do not have to be. With appropriate coaching and practice you can create a high-functioning team.
High functioning teams that deliver results purposefully are what we term ‘intentional teams’.
An Intentional Team™ has four characteristics:
- A performance mindset
- Flexible leadership
- A compelling direction
- One-Team Culture
The characteristic of an Intentional Team™

- One-team principles & behaviours
- Strong relationships
- Clear operating processes & governance
- High trust
- Shared definition of business success
- Committed sponsorship
- Interest-based agreements
- Aligned expectations
- Creates one team
- Knows it’s about the people
- Conveys clarity & urgency
- Is disciplined, makes tough calls
- Displays a desire to win
- Planning discipline
- Hand-offs & interfaces
- Clean communication
- Clear performance goals
- Continuous learning