Team collaboration is the heartbeat of a thriving workplace. It’s what turns loosely connected employees into high-performing teams. But true collaboration doesn’t just happen because we put people in meetings or assign them to projects together. It emerges when leaders create a culture where trust, shared goals, and authentic relationships drive the way people work together.
Consequently, that’s where the TIGERS 6 Principles come in. These principles were discovered though extensive research into group performance in the Business, Education and Psychology fields of study. The Six Principles are—Trust, Interdependence, Genuineness, Empathy, Risk Resolution, and Success. They aren’t just abstract principles. They are behaviors that guide how teams align roles, pursue goals, and nurture relationships. And when these principles are present, something powerful happens. Your organizational values, vision, and mission aren’t just words. Because, they show up in the way people behave. They shape a culture where accountability, performance, and engagement thrive.
A team collaboration story that might sound familiar
When Renée was promoted to department head, she inherited a team with talent—but no cohesion. As a result, silos had taken root. Collaboration was sporadic, and feedback was either sugar-coated or avoided altogether. Meetings felt like rituals. Morale was low while turnover was creeping up.
Renée had a choice. Double down on oversight or shift how her team worked together. She chose the latter—and used the TIGERS 6 Principles to guide the transformation.
She began with Trust, intentionally showing up with consistency and transparency. She brought in tools and assessments to help people explore Interdependence—how each role contributed to collective success. In one-on-ones, she focused on Genuineness, ditching buzzwords for honest, respectful dialogue. When a miscommunication flared up between two teams, she leaned into Empathy and facilitated a conversation where both sides felt heard. Through facilitated feedback sessions, the team learned to face conflict—Risk Resolution—rather than retreat from it. And when small wins began stacking up, she amplified them, anchoring a culture of shared Success.
It didn’t take long before energy returned. Ideas surfaced faster. Concurrently accountability rose. The team not only hit their quarterly goals, they started exceeding them. The culture shifted from transactional to transformational.
Why team collaboration works
Each of the TIGERS 6 Principles supports the three key areas of collaboration:
- Roles: Clarity, trust, and interdependence ensure that people know their place—and respect others’ contributions.
- Goals: Shared success is built when people commit to mutual outcomes, not just personal KPIs.
- Relationships: Genuineness and empathy turn coworkers into co-creators, building a team dynamic where people want to stay and grow.
This isn’t just good for people, it’s good for business. Teams that consistently apply the TIGERS 6 Principles enjoy:
- Higher retention and engagement
- Increased innovation and creativity
- Lower stress and conflict
- Faster and more sustainable performance
The leader’s choice
Many leaders feel the pressure to perform, manage up, and keep control. But here’s the truth. In the age of AI and rapid disruption, command-and-control is not what retains your top people. Collaborative cultures, built on trust and feedback, are.
And it doesn’t require overhauling everything overnight. It begins with intention—and small behavior shifts. When you align your team’s behavior with these six principles, you stop pushing for performance. You start building the environment that makes performance natural.
In conclusion, take the first step
Want to assess how well your team is already practicing the habits that build collaboration? Download our free checklist:
10 Habits of High-Performance Collaborative Teams
You’ll discover what’s working, where trust needs reinforcement, and how to start the shift—whether you lead in person, remotely, or across departments.
And if you’re ready to build trust deeper and faster, explore our course:
Master High-Trust Leadership – Learn to lead with the feedback, communication, and cultural intelligence today’s teams need.
Because when trust and collaboration go up, so does everything else.
Copyright TIGERS Success Series, Inc. by Dianne Crampton
The TIGERS 6 Principles empower Executives and Consultants with a comprehensive collaborative work culture and leadership platform to resolve avoidable talent, engagement and work community problems that stunt growth.
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