Useful English expressions and idioms related to teamwork

to build a team

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This is when you choose who will be part of the team and go through the process of helping
them work well together. We can use the expression ‘team building’ as an adjective or verb to
talk about this process of cultivating a good working relationship within the team.

“The accounts manager has built a strong team in his department. They go on team building
activities every three months.”
I am in charge of organising team-building activities with my team.
Despite not having a budget for regular team events, we are a young dynamic team, and all of
to be a team player us are prepared to pay out of our own pocket. There is no pressure for team events because I
feel we have built a strong team already.
To be a person who works well as part of a team.

“I love working with Dan. He’s a real team player.” In my view, I am a good team player and I like to make sure everyone
around me is at ease/ I like to put the rest of my team at ease.
to gel

This is when the members of a team have good relationships with each other and work well
together.

“We’ve been working together for a month and the team is starting to gel.”
After the pandemic, we have a new team, and when we began working in the office together, we really started to gel.
to touch base with someone
to have a meeting in person
This means to get in contact or meet up with someone, generally to discuss progress.
Lola touched base with me following her project workshops, despite being on sick leave.
“I’d like you to complete this task then we’ll touch base on Monday to discuss the next steps.”
My manager and I regularly touch base when we find a moment to catch up,
to catch up with someone

To meet with someone and discuss what you have been doing or working on recently.

“Sorry I haven’t been around much recently. Can we meet on Monday? I’d like to catch up with
you about what you’ve been doing for the last month.”

to step on someone’s toes

To do something that might interfere with the way another person wants to do a task.

“I would love to help you by coding the website but Darren is our web designer and I don’t want
to step on his toes.”
You need a lot of patience when you are training someone new. It must be quite frustrating to wait for a trainee to do something, after mistakes, but you
don't want to step on her/ his toes.
to bounce ideas off someone

To share an idea with someone and get their opinion on whether it is good or bad.

“I’ve thought about what the poster should look like but can’t make up my mind. Can we meet
up so I can bounce some ideas off you?”

When I am assigned a project similar to what my colleagues had previously done, I bounce ideas off them. And vice versa when they need my
expertise or experience.