Top-Rated Team Building Coaching

Expert support to help founders cultivate effective teams

team building coaching

Building strong teams in fast-paced, high-stakes environments takes more than instinct — it takes strategy, skill, and insight. Our team coaching services are designed for founders, leaders, and startup teams who want to improve team dynamics, build trust, and unlock the full potential of their people. Through expert facilitation, tailored strategies, and a coaching culture that supports sustainable change, we help you develop high performing teams aligned around a shared purpose.

  • Evidence-based approach integrating DBT, coaching science, and positive psychology

  • Specialized in improving communication skills, decision making, and collaboration under pressure

  • Warm, honest coaching style that encourages team members to feel valued and stay engaged

  • Focus on sustainable change, not quick fixes — we help you build a strong foundation for long-term growth

  • Trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and committed to equity-driven leadership

Why Choose Strengths Squared for Team Coaching?

  • 20+ years of combined expertise in team development, executive coaching, and leadership psychology

  • Deep experience working with startup founders, investors, and tech teams

About Strengths Squared

At Strengths Squared, we help startup leaders and teams move from surviving to thriving. Our coaching and consulting practice was founded by two experienced professionals — a therapist and a coach — who understand both the human complexity and the high-performance demands of startup life.

We specialize in team coaching that builds trust, clarity, and connection. Our team coaching approach is grounded in behavioral science, leadership coaching, and real-world experience leading teams through rapid growth, pivots, and burnout recovery. We believe strong teams are built on mutual trust, open communication, and a shared sense of purpose — and that professional development should feel both empowering and deeply human.

Whether you're navigating a major transition, dealing with interpersonal challenges, or simply ready to improve your team’s performance and problem solving , we provide expert support to help you lead with confidence and build resilient, collaborative teams.

Meet our top-rated NYC startup founder coaches

team building coaches

Marisa Birnbaum, PCC

Marisa is a certified executive coach who brings over a decade of experience in leadership development and team performance. She partners with startup founders and their teams to improve communication, build trust, and develop shared goals. With a background in provider relations and a specialty in executive and team coaching, Marisa helps teams navigate complex dynamics and improve collaboration across different roles. Her style is warm, strategic, and grounded in real-world experience guiding high-performing teams toward sustainable growth.

 
team building coach

Lisa Birnbaum, LCSW

Lisa is an integrative therapist and team development expert with advanced training in DBT, CBT, and group facilitation. She works closely with leaders to build coaching cultures that foster open dialogue, psychological safety, and team building activities, along with strengths-based leadership. Lisa’s unique approach blends emotional intelligence with behavioral science — helping teams engage in honest reflection, improve decision making, and develop the skills needed for ongoing growth. She is especially skilled in mentoring activities, guiding principles, and role play exercises that bring a team’s strengths to life.and team coaching

How to Start Executive and Team Coaching

1. Schedule a Free Consultation

Start by booking a no-pressure, 30-minute consultation with one of our coaches. During this call, we’ll learn about your goals, your team structure, and any challenges you're currently facing. We’ll also answer your questions and give you a clear understanding of how team development coaching could support your organization’s growth.

2. Get Matched With the Right Coach

After the consultation, we’ll match you with the coach best suited to your needs — whether you're focused on improving team dynamics, refining leadership skills, or navigating difficult transitions. Every team has a unique process, and we’re here to align with yours.

3. Choose a Format That Fits Your Team

Our coaching packages are flexible: choose from one-time workshops, short-term intensives, or ongoing support. Whether you're looking to build trust quickly through team building activities or create sustainable change through long-term collaboration, we’ll co-create a plan that works for your organization.

Why Choose Our Team Coaching Services

team building coaches

Tailored for Startup Teams

We specialize in coaching startup teams — especially those navigating fast growth, remote collaboration, and evolving team dynamics. We understand the pressure and pace of this world, and we build strategies that help your team achieve alignment and stay energized.

Deep Expertise in Human Behavior

Our approach integrates evidence-based techniques from leadership coaching, therapy, and behavior science. This gives us a unique lens to understand challenges, encourage team members, and build coaching skills that foster sustainable change.

Warm, Candid, and Collaborative Style

We don’t lecture or impose cookie-cutter frameworks. We listen. We co-create. We engage in open dialogue with your team and work side-by-side to develop mutual trust, build commitment, and improve your team’s performance.

Common Reasons Why People Hire a Team Building Coach

To Improve Team Dynamics

When communication breaks down or silos start to form, coaching can help restore alignment. We guide teams to improve team dynamics by fostering open communication, clarifying roles, and helping people feel valued in their work.

To Support a New Leader or Restructure

Transitions can be destabilizing — especially when new leadership is introduced or the team is reorganized. Team coaching helps teams stay grounded, build trust, and engage in role play or mentoring activities that smooth the transition for employees.

To Strengthen Collaboration and Decision Making

Strong teams know how to collaborate, make decisions, and execute under pressure. Our process builds shared purpose and coaching skills that help both colleagues and team members understand one another’s strengths and improve collective problem solving.

When Another Organization Might Be a Better Fit for Your Needs

You’re Looking for a Large-Scale Corporate Training Program

While we love partnering with startup and mid-sized teams, we’re not a fit for large enterprise-level trainings involving hundreds of employees. If you're looking for multi-day corporate events or industry-wide curriculum rollouts, we may not be the best choice — but we’re happy to refer you to vetted partners who specialize in that.

You Need Crisis Mediation or Legal HR Consulting

If your team is facing acute conflict, harassment concerns, or legal compliance issues, we recommend working with a specialist in organizational mediation or employment law. Our coaching is future-focused and team development-oriented, but it’s not a replacement for legal or investigatory processes.

You Want a One-Size-Fits-All Coaching Package

We tailor everything — from the coaching format to the communication strategies — to your team’s specific strengths and challenges. If you're looking for a rigid curriculum with little room for customization, another provider might better match your expectations.

FAQs about team development coaching

  • A team building coach helps facilitate trust, communication, and alignment within your team. We work collaboratively to improve your team’s performance through reflective exercises, coaching conversations, and activities that surface blind spots and build mutual trust. Typical sessions may include discussion prompts, decision-making simulations, role play, and facilitated feedback.

    Our coaching approach is not about assigning blame — it's about helping colleagues recognize each other’s strengths, improve communication, and develop a shared playbook for teamwork. It’s an ongoing process that supports professional development and leadership growth at every level.

  • Any team that wants to improve collaboration, clarity, and performance can benefit — from newly formed teams navigating growth, to seasoned teams dealing with burnout or internal challenges. We frequently work with:

    • Startup leadership teams

    • Cross-functional project teams

    • Hybrid and remote teams

    • VC-backed founders scaling quickly

    • Small teams in mission-driven organizations

    If you’re unsure whether our coaching teambuilding approach is the right fit, reach out. We’ll help you evaluate your goals and decide if team development coaching can support your organization effectively.

  • Corporate team coaching brings structure, clarity, and connection to your workplace. It helps teams build trust, practice open dialogue, and gain insights into how they operate. The benefits are measurable: improved team dynamics, more confident decision making, better communication, and higher employee engagement.

    We’ve seen teams move from frustration to collaboration — from passive meetings to strategic action. Coaching encourages team members to feel valued, strengthens leadership skills, and facilitates knowledge transfer across different roles. If you're ready to build strong teams that are aligned and adaptable, this is a powerful place to start.

executive and team coaching

Get started today

At Strengths Squared, we believe every founder deserves access to the tools that build strong, connected, and high-performing teams. Our coaching helps teams develop a clear understanding of their shared purpose, improve communication, and work toward sustainable change together.

If you’re ready to strengthen your team’s dynamics and lead with more confidence, reach out to schedule your consultation. We’re here to help you build trust, develop leadership, and achieve real momentum.