Lesson from the past
Way back I served in a supporting role alongside three different team leaders. Each leader had a totally different personality, but they all directed the team with firm judgement, controlling when the team could let their hair down and when professional focus was paramount to the exclusion of all else. The rules of play were unwritten, but were respected by all, so the team kept (mostly) out of trouble while still having a lot of fun.
Even elitism was self regulated – if anyone got above themselves they were brought down with a bump. This even extended to the team leader. On one occasion the leader arranged for personal reasons for the team to perform an unofficial ‘practice display’ at a well-known golf course where an international competition was in progress. The team pilots judged this to be for personal aggrandisement, which it was, and plotted a comeuppance. So on arrival over the venue, when the leader pulled up and called Diamond Go, everyone else carried straight on and hurried back to base, chuckling as the leader, oblivious he was on his own, continued to display and call formation changes for another couple of minutes. Afterwards he eventually joined in the laugh and acknowledged why the guys had done it.
Strong leadership and mutual respect set up a climate that enabled the team to achieve its aims without needing to be chased with a big stick. It could do again.