Unity

The members of successful teams share a vision, are focused on the same goals, strive with the same purpose to move in the same direction.  In short, unity is a key characteristic of success.

If unity is so important, then why aren't all teams united?
 

Why are there so few great teams and so many average and dysfunctional teams?

I think the answer to these questions is actually quite simple. It takes a lot of work to foster a spirit of unity.

There are so many factors that can subvert unity - egos, negativity, politics,  agendas, lack of or poor leadership, power struggles, selfishness - that it can be difficult to bring people together.  All of these can drain the positive energy from and sabotage your team thereby preventing it from performing to its full potential.

Unity is not something that just happens.  It takes a concerted and diligent effort on the part of leadership to ensure all team members are engaged in the process of building a united, winning team.  Unity occurs when individuals work and play for one another. Clearly defined and accepted individual roles as part of the overall team concept are key to the team's overall vision and ultimately, its success.

Both positivity and negativity are contagious.

The key then is to grow positivity while weeding out negativity.  Consider an average team as being one whose scales are balanced evenly between advantages and disadvantages.  In order to become a good team there must be a purposeful effort to accumulate more advantages while shedding disadvantages thus swinging the scales of your team in favor of success. 

A conscious recognition that criticism must come in a constructive, educational form is paramount. We must be willing to both teach and learn from one another. Effective communication is therefore a key to unity. An environment in which individuals encourage, enable and empower those around them instills confidence and trust in everyone.
  

The only real question is how hard your team is willing to work on establishing a positive, nurturing environment in pursuit of unity. The effort put forth towards establishing unity is every bit as important as the work put in on technical and tactical skills... and sometimes more so.