Want to build a strong culture? Start by removing ego from the equation.

This past week, I’ve watched one of the most high-performing teams I've ever been part of absolutely crush it at HOBY Youth Leadership's World Leadership Congress. The culture created by our Vice Chair of Operations, Blake Anderson, removed all ego. The message was simple: do the work, ask for help when you need it, and lend a hand anytime you can.

For 10 days, people stepped up, jumped in, worked together, and took ownership when things could have been better.

There wasn’t flawless planning — mistakes happened. But it didn't matter. Everyone pitched in when things got tough. No one took credit where credit wasn't due. Praise and appreciation flowed freely. And we each acknowledged when we needed a break, an extra set of eyes on a spreadsheet, or a pair of hands to move something.

This kind of culture didn't happen by accident. It took intention. It took care. It took selfless acts of servant leadership. It took a leader at the top who showed up without ego and a challenge to everyone else to do the same.

Shared success mattered more than individual recognition. So much so that Blake challenged all of us to verbally praise ourselves midway through the week for all of the work we had done and for the major operational wins we’d pulled off as a team.

The best teams don’t work hard for you. They work hard with you. Because when ego steps out of the way, excellence steps in.