Teamwork can be challenging when there are different personalities, conflicting directions, and external pressures of being part of a team. When a team isn’t working well together, it can be uncomfortable and stressful for everyone involved. And rather than trying to solve the issues, there is often a tendency to downplay concerns or to hope that the situation will just magically improve. The reality is that the dynamics of the team won’t change unless a proactive approach is taken to make things better.
The RIGHT Model for Team Success
It often takes a mindset shift for the members of a team to see things differently when teamwork is no longer working. There’s a concept that’s commonly applied in the customer service industry called ‘making it right’. Front-line employees are given the authority to take matters into their own hands if there’s a problem with a customer. The intent of making it right’ is – just that – to make the situation better. Customers respond positively when such efforts are made, and they often feel even more satisfied than they did before the mistake.
The same approach can be applied to teamwork when the dynamics have gone off track. The situation can be made right by taking a pause, regrouping, and applying a framework that is called the RIGHT model:
The right model
R – Reflect
I – Imagine
G – Goal Set
H – Harness Your Power
T – Take Action
Teams that work cohesively are more effective, empowered and prepared to achieve greater success. However, this success doesn’t take place just because employees are asked to work as a group. It takes a proactive approach and a shared belief for individuals to work effectively as a team.
By applying the RIGHT model, the mindset of the team shifts so that they can take control and accomplish more together. It drives positive outcomes and enables the team to move forward as a united group.
Understanding Team Perspectives
The first step in the RIGHT model is to reflect, which is important when working together as a team. By reflecting as a group, employees can better understand each other’s perspectives and how the team is impacted by these perspectives. The exercise of reflection can be done at the beginning of a project to set things on the right path, in the middle to stay the course, or at the end when debriefing on what went well or didn’t go well.
Here are some questions that can be considered when reflecting on teamwork:
- How do you feel about this assignment? Have you tried something like this before?
- How do you plan to contribute to the team? Is this a new approach?
- What kind of participation do you expect from others? From yourself?
- How can you best work together? What have you learned so far?
- What excites you about the project or task? What concerns you?
Achieve More as a Team
Once the team is grounded in reflection, they can start imagining the possibilities of their work. To do this effectively, the team must imagine the possibilities of achieving something greater together than they could on their own.
Here are some questions to ask when imagining the possibilities:
- How can we achieve transformation as a team? What would need to be true?
- What if we solved this problem? What would be different?
- How is the team more powerful together? What combined skills do we bring?
- Is it possible to tackle this problem?
- How can we best prepare ourselves as a team?
Sharing Goals with Others
Teams that work well together have shared goals, and more importantly, they believe in those goals equally. That’s why goal setting is another aspect of the RIGHT model. The importance of having a goal shouldn’t be underestimated, as it’s the anchor that keeps everyone on the team grounded. Without goals, teams are left to flounder, struggling to figure out why they have been brought together and what they are trying to accomplish.

Here are some questions to consider when setting goals as a team:
- What do we want to accomplish together?
- Why do we need to do this now? What is urgent about this goal?
- Is this goal SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound?
- What role will everyone play to achieve this goal?
- How will we know that we have been successful?
Harness the Power of Teamwork
In the RIGHT model, harness your power means bringing out the best in each and every person on the team. We all have different strengths and abilities, and the magic happens when these skills come together in a cohesive team. Employees are more likely to apply their strengths when they are recognised and appreciated by others. This motivates members of a team to unleash their power and contribute their best efforts.
Here are some questions to ask when harnessing the power of team members:
- What unique skills do you have? How can you contribute them to the team?
- Are you ready to take on the task at hand? How can you display your expertise?
- Can you combine your skills with another team member to be even stronger?
- What motivates you to do your best work?
- How can we leverage your strengths to compliment other people on the team?

Taking Action Together
The final step in the RIGHT model moves the team from thinking and planning mode to action mode. It is where results start to happen. When teams are not ready or not getting along, they find excuses not to get things done or they go off in different directions. But when they gel, it is easy for them to take action as a group. One of the biggest benefits of working as a team versus individually is the strength in numbers. And when more people work together, more can be accomplished.
Here are some questions that the team can consider when they are ready to take action:
- How is the team going to work together?
- What tasks need to be done? Who is the best to do them?
- When is everyone ready to take action?
- Can we accomplish what we’re setting out to do?
- When will the work be completed? How will we know?
Summary and Reflections
The RIGHT model helps to bring employees together so that they are truly working as a cohesive and collaborative group. It is designed to align goals while building trust and communication within a team.
Teamwork can be improved in any situation using the RIGHT model – by reflecting on the situation, imagining the possibilities, setting goals, harnessing everyone’s unique power and, finally, taking action. The end state is worth the effort, as great things can happen in a team when everyone works well together.
At Spireworxs, we are committed to helping organizations improve their teamwork, so that they can achieve greater results and a stronger sense of belonging. Reach out to us today to learn more about our tailored solutions.