Lead with Integrity: 3 C’s of Highly Effective Teams and Leaders

Ethics Matters

Q1 2025

Have you ever considered the fact that highly effective teams have similar qualities and characteristics of highly effective leaders? To understand leadership, you must understand the role a leader’s character and behavior has in shaping their teams and organizations. Your actions set the tone for the entire organization and speak volumes to your commitment to those you serve and the team you surround yourself with. 

Let’s talk about the 3 C’s common to highly effective teams and leaders.  

Communication – Highly effective teams and leaders create thriving environments through effective communication. They recognize the need to communicate specifically with each audience or constituency in the way they prefer. There is also an earnest desire for feedback not relegated to top down. In fact, they seek feedback from everyone around them looking for honest critiques to guide them toward corrective actions for improvement.   

Creativity – There is a relentless focus on creativity by effective teams and leaders. Creativity is a skill, which means that an emphasis on creativity leads to investments in skill development. It also establishes a commitment to celebrate failures just as much as successes, because they know a greater degree of growth and learning comes from failures and the struggles as you perfect the process.  

Collaboration – Lastly, effective teams and leaders understand the impact and need for collaboration. They seek the collective input of diverse experiences and thoughts of others to solve problems. This is the definition of entrepreneurism. Working across the organization, seeking input from various stakeholders and involving thought leaders from industry and the community help to provide multiple solutions to problems and create a greater sense of engagement and commitment to success for everyone involved.  

How do you ensure that your team is focused on the 3 C’s? As you lead with integrity, remember that your commitment to communication, creativity, and collaboration will inspire those around you to be a highly effective team.