Avoiding the “Team Traps”: How to Build a Remarkable Team

Insights from Tim Foot’s Seminar with RightNow Media at Work

Even the best teams—with talented people and a compelling mission—can fall apart when they fall into subtle but deadly traps. In a recent webinar hosted by RightNow Media at Work, leadership and team development expert Tim Foot of Slingshot Group unpacks what he calls the “Team Traps” that derail performance, cause frustration, and stall mission momentum.

Drawing from his musical background, years of coaching over 4,000 organizations, and even his childhood love of LEGO, Tim shared practical wisdom on how teams can avoid common traps and instead build structures that support clarity, collaboration, and long-term growth.

The 6 Team Traps (and How to Avoid Them)

🧱 1. The Clarity TrapWhen teams lack a clear mission, values, and alignment, they drift into confusion and disengagement.

Avoid it by:

• Regularly articulating and revisiting your mission and values

• Defining your “why” and linking it to everyday decisions

• Investing in leadership convictions that drive clarity

  
  

🎯 Focus instead on: Conviction—your purpose must be bigger than you.

🗣 2. The Communication TrapAssuming people understand your message is a recipe for misunderstanding and frustration.

Avoid it by:

• Assuming people don’t know or care—then proving them wrong through clear, strategic communication

• Listening actively and asking clarifying questions

• Creating feedback loops for internal clarity

  
  

🎯 Focus instead on: Message—everything communicates, not just your words.

😌 3. The Complacency TrapRelying on superstars or outdated systems creates a false sense of security.

Avoid it by:

• Building sustainable systems that scale

• Planning proactively, not reactively

• Regularly evaluating and updating your frameworks

  
  

🎯 Focus instead on: Systems—healthy growth needs healthy structure.

💬 4. The Connection TrapNeglecting relational investment leads to emotional disconnection and mistrust.

Avoid it by:

• Prioritizing one-on-ones and relational deposits

• Creating a culture of care and psychological safety

• Coaching your team with context, compassion, and curiosity

  
  

🎯 Focus instead on: Culture—the soul of your team.

🪑 5. The Comfort TrapAvoiding conflict can feel peaceful, but it often signals stagnation and hidden dysfunction.

Avoid it by:

• Naming tensions and allowing healthy friction

• Hiring for diversity of thought, not comfort

• Creating safe environments for disagreement

  
  

🎯 Focus instead on: Friction—tension can drive innovation.

🧭 6. BONUS Traps: Distraction & MarginTim also introduced two emerging traps:

• The Distraction Trap: losing focus on the mission by chasing comfort, compatibility, or the latest trends.

• The Margin Trap: taking risks without assessing the team’s true capacity.

  
  

🎯 Focus on:

• Roles—clarifying unique contributions aligned to mission

• Risk—strategic, brave decision-making grounded in capacity

Leadership Takeaways & Applications

• Get your fingers back in the dirt: When burned out, re-engage with the mission by hearing stories of impact.

• Invest in relational equity: Trust is built outside of meetings—create space to connect personally.

• Coach up or coach out: If a high-performing team member brings toxicity, you owe it to them and the team to address it.

• Define roles clearly: Build your org chart around the mission, not just the people you have.

• Align around shared values: In culturally or politically diverse teams, major on the agreements.

For Your Further Reflection

• What “trap” might your team be in right now? How would you know?

• Which “offensive focus” (conviction, message, systems, culture, friction, roles, risk) is your team strong in—and where is there room to grow?

• What small step could you take this week to build deeper trust or clarify a key message?

🎥 Watch the Full Seminar:“Team Traps with Tim Foot” – hosted by RightNow Media at Work▶️ Watch on YouTube