As part of our Winning Teams: Thriving Together campaign, we brought together voices from the worlds of elite sport and business for an inspiring panel discussion.
The goal? To explore what business can learn from the mindsets, behaviours, and teamwork that drive success on and off the field.
Our incredible panel featured:
Josh Navidi – British & Irish Lion and Welsh international rugby player
Ella Powell – Welsh international footballer
Adrian Harvie – National Youth Head Coach, Wales Football
Paul Chudleigh – Principal Psychologist & Client Director, Insight HRC
Cath Lundie – Director of People & Resources, Novomorphic Ltd
It was a powerful conversation about resilience, trust, and the shared drive to thrive together as winning teams.
We began with something simple and revealing.
What’s one word that describes a winning team for you?
Here’s what we discovered.
Cohesion – Josh
“The better the cohesion between players, staff and coaches, the better the performance.”
Josh spoke about cohesion as the foundation of any successful team. In sport, everyone has to move in the same direction — players, coaches, physios, and support staff all aligned around a shared goal.
When that connection is strong, performance follows. When it’s fractured, even one “bad egg” can disrupt the environment. Cohesion is about trust, communication and consistency — not just talent.
Resonance – Paul
“When a team resonates, it syncs. People understand and appreciate each other – and that shows in how they perform.”
Paul brought in the concept of resonance, drawn from Resonant Leadership. A resonant team doesn’t just collaborate; it connects emotionally.
Team members recognise each other’s strengths, respond to one another’s energy and create a sense of shared rhythm. It’s that unspoken alignment – empathy, understanding, and flow – that turns a good team into a great one.
Alignment – Ella
“No matter our differences, we’re all working towards the same goal.”
For Ella, a winning team is all about alignment. Beyond friendships or personality fit, the best teams are crystal clear on purpose. Everyone knows what success looks like, and holds each other accountable to it.
When the pressure builds, alignment helps teams stay focused and grounded in their shared ambition.
Growth – Cath
“In the best teams, everyone grows – in performance, in relationships, and as people.”
She described how the most effective teams evolve together – continually learning, strengthening relationships, and challenging each other to improve. Growth happens not just in results, but in connection and self-awareness.
Winning teams create space for people to stretch, reflect and raise the bar together.
Identity – Adrian
“Our behaviours reflect our purpose – especially under pressure.”
Adrian focused on identity. For the Wales U21s, success isn’t just about the scoreboard – it’s about living out the team’s values of humility, hard work and resilience.
These shared behaviours become part of the team’s DNA. Under pressure, identity provides stability and strength.
The Foundation: Psychological Safety
Adrian also shared how he builds belonging and trust in high-performance environments. His approach is built around one simple acronym: PALS.
P – Personalised Welcome: Names, humour and genuine connection from day one.
A – Artifacts: Learning something personal about each player, beyond football.
L – Lunch Together: Shared tables to break down barriers.
S – Solo: A one-to-one with every player to build personal trust.
These small, intentional actions create psychological safety — the freedom to be yourself, speak up, and take risks without fear. It’s the invisible glue that holds high-performing teams together.
The 4-H’s: A Tool for Connection
Adrian also shared a powerful exercise learned from Kevin Roberts, former CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi: the 4-H’s.
Each person shares their:
History – where they’ve come from
Heartache – what’s challenged them
Hopes – what they’re striving for
Heroes – who inspires them
Used with staff and players, it breaks down hierarchy and deepens empathy. Everyone’s story adds to the team’s shared sense of humanity — and that’s where real trust begins.
Cohesion. Resonance. Alignment. Growth. Identity.
Five words, five perspectives — and one powerful truth: winning teams are built on trust, shared purpose and the courage to connect.
Whether on the pitch, in the office or within leadership teams, the best groups don’t just perform together, they grow together.
Hayley Macleod, Chief Operations and People Officer at Box UK, commented “The ‘jersey mindset’ was a game-changer for me – thinking about our roles as stewardship rather than ownership. Combining insights from elite athletes with business psychology made these leadership principles incredibly practical and actionable.”
Reflecting on Your Own Team
How does your team show its identity under pressure?
Where do you see growth or resonance emerging and where could it be stronger?
Building a winning team isn’t about finding the right people, it’s about creating the right environment for them to thrive.
Our “Winning Teams” panel revealed that success is about more than skill, it’s about cohesion, resonance, alignment, growth and identity, all underpinned by psychological safety and human connection.
At Insight, we help organisations build that environment — one grounded in trust, self-awareness and meaningful connection.
If you’d like to explore how we can help your team reach its potential, get in touch with us here.