Great cultures don’t happen by accident, and neither do high-performing teams.

Here are six habits that great teams do consistently.

They Do Things on Purpose. They communicate and celebrate a sense of purpose, so that every team member understands clearly what it is they are trying to achieve. In surveys, an average of 7 out of 10 team members don’t understand the true purpose of the team, and yet research into effective team behavior suggests the #1 most important factor in building a strong team is ensuring everyone has a clear understanding as to why their team exists and what it is they are trying to achieve.

They Huddle Up. Communication is everything when it comes to building a great team, which is why so many high-performing teams commit to short (5-10 minutes), daily, standing up team huddles.  Daily huddles can reduce conflict, improve communication, reduce the use and reliance on e-mails, and help team members feel more connected to each other and better informed.

They Celebrate. In addition to celebrating individual accomplishments (and not being afraid to recognize individual achievements), they define and celebrate key team milestones.

They Embrace Diversity. As the old saying goes, “If you have two employees, executives, or managers who think alike – one of them is redundant!” Great teams don’t try to build monolithic beasts where everyone acts and thinks the same, they understand that greatness happens when everyone is allowed to shine and bring their own perspective and strengths to a united cause.

They Embrace Healthy Debate. An absence of any conflict or debate on a team may be a sign of a dysfunctional team. The absence of heated debate might indicate apathy, complacency with the status quo, a lack of passion, or an inability to share uncomfortable truths or differing opinions – which can lead to dangerous group think. Healthy teams encourage healthy debate focused on ideas, never personalities.

They Have Fun! A study reported in Scientific America found that the most effective team meetings were those meetings where participants engaged in a lot of joking around and good-humored banter. Having fun builds trust within teams, lowers tension, sparks creative thinking and fuels more positive conversations. And there’s a rubber chicken and egg relationship: Humor helps build a stronger team, but it also reflects a successful, healthy and inspiring team.

Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame Speaker, highly in-demand international keynote speaker, and the creator of the Culture Leadership Online Academy. Michael is also the author of 8 books, including:  The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank;  Hire, Inspire, and Fuel Their Fire; and The Jerk-Free Workplace: How You Can Take the Lead to Create a Happier, More Inspiring Workplace.  www.MikeKerr.com