Eminem Was Right: To Foster a Resilient Team Culture, You Better “Lose Yourself”

Over 11 years ago, the team at Vance Thompson Vision moved into a new, larger facility. Our team had grown rapidly — nearly doubling in size — and we had a strong, close-knit culture rooted in care and presence. We started each day with a huddle to review priorities, process improvements, and announcements. But after a few weeks, attendance at these huddles began to drop. I was frustrated, not yet understanding that many team members were already with patients by the time the huddle began.

In response, I went to our surgeons with a plan:

“I think I’m going to take attendance at our huddles. We need to stress the importance of starting our day together.”

Dr. Vance Thompson, senior partner and ASCRS president (and my personal mentor), offered a different perspective: “Well, you could do that, but I wonder if it’ll accomplish what you hope. What if, instead of mandating attendance, you made the huddle so amazing that no one would want to miss it?”

That challenge changed everything. I realized that if I only focused on my priorities, others wouldn’t see the value in them. With Dr. Thompson’s insight, we involved team leaders and members to make the huddle engaging, fun, and unmissable. As a result, our daily huddles became the heart of our culture, using games, music, and creativity to reinforce our values.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Building a Strong Team Culture

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and those of others. In a team setting, EI is essential for fostering trust, resolving conflicts, and driving performance. Here's how to develop a resilient team culture using EI:

1. Building Self-Awareness

Self-awareness helps team members understand their emotions, strengths, and limitations. Leaders can encourage this by fostering open dialogue and promoting continuous learning.

2. Practicing Self-Regulation

Self-regulation involves managing emotions, especially in challenging situations. Leaders model this by staying calm under pressure and promoting a solutions-oriented approach.

3. Cultivating Empathy

Empathy strengthens team cohesion. By actively listening and demonstrating concern for others’ well-being, leaders foster trust and inclusivity, making everyone feel valued.

4. Enhancing Social Skills

Effective communication and teamwork are vital. Leaders can promote strong social skills by encouraging clear, transparent communication and conflict resolution.

Promoting a Culture of Emotional Intelligence

Leaders set the tone for emotional intelligence within a team. By modeling EI principles, encouraging open communication, and providing opportunities for development, they create a culture of respect and high performance.

Conclusion

Fostering a strong team culture requires emotional intelligence. By prioritizing self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social skills, teams can build trust, enhance communication, and improve collective performance. When leaders actively model these behaviors, they create an environment where team members thrive, adapt, and succeed together.

Building a great team culture isn’t about mandates; it’s about making every part of the experience so valuable and enjoyable that people don’t want to miss it. By focusing on emotional intelligence, teams can become resilient, cohesive, and achieve shared goals.