4 pillars of high-performing teams (demon-slaying optional)

If you haven’t seen it, let an overage fan give you the premise: Three K-pop superstars in a band called Huntr/x secretly hunt demons. Their music doesn’t just entertain fans; their good vibes create a protective force field called the “Golden Honmoon” that shields our world from the demon world. Yes, that’s why the song your kids keep playing is named “Golden.”

Naturally, the demons form their own boy band to steal fans and break down the Honmoon. It’s fun and absurd, sure, but it’s also the perfect example of what Boom Chicago for Business calls positive culture. 

When Huntr/x’s culture is at its best, the demons don’t stand a chance. When that culture breaks down, they lose fans… and the Honmoon.

“It’s going up, up, up – this is your culture…”

And when you look past the demons, songs and K-pop choreography, you see the same four pillars that show up in high-performing European teams:

Collaboration
At their best, Huntr/x operates as a true team. They write together, rehearse together and support each other on stage and off. Their performances work because they are connected.

When that collaboration weakens, things start to slip. They can’t agree on lyrics. Their infighting messes up their demon fighting – which is a key part of demon hunting. The connection with the audience fades, and the Golden Honmoon begins to crack.

The lesson is simple but important. Collaboration isn’t just about being in the same room or working on the same project. It’s about actively building on each other’s ideas and efforts. And that’s hard to do without clear communication.

Clear Communication and Feedback
One of the members is hiding a secret: she’s part demon. (Cue the slow ballad verse about her shame!) Convinced her teammates will never accept her, she keeps it to herself.

That lack of honesty creates friction across the team. Communication becomes guarded and trust erodes. Small issues become bigger ones because no one says what needs to be said. Nothing about the mission has changed, but internally, the team is no longer aligned.

When she finally tells the truth, everything shifts for the better. The teammates connect through vulnerability instead of hiding it. Psychological safety returns, and with it, the Golden Honmoon. The high functioning K-pop team is back in business! 

Inspiring Storytelling
In this world, storytelling is not just part of the performance. It’s the power source. The stronger the emotional connection, the stronger the protection. It’s an exaggerated cartoon metaphor for something very real: When people believe in what they are part of, they bring more energy, focus and commitment.

Stories give meaning to effort. They’re how you win hearts, minds and hands. They align people around a shared purpose and makes the work feel like it matters, both to the team to the people they serve.

Taking Ownership
Each member of Huntr/x has a role to play in the group and in the mission. But the real shift doesn’t come from better choreography or tighter performances. It comes when they stop hiding.

At the end of the movie, the characters take ownership of who they are, including the parts they were previously ashamed of. That honesty allows them to reconnect as a team and fully recommit to their goal. In this sense, ownership goes beyond tasks or responsibilities. It’s about showing up fully and taking responsibility for your contribution to the whole.

When communication isn’t clear and open, trust disappears and collaboration fails. When collaboration weakens, performance suffers. When the story loses strength, commitment drops. When ownership is missing, people hold back.

Now, your team is probably not building a force field, fighting a demon boy band or building an army of teenage superfans. But these principles apply to any group trying to do something meaningful together. And while I can’t make you watch K-pop Demon Hunters (though you should), Boom Chicago for Business can help you build a positive culture where your team can be most effective. And don’t we all have some demons to battle?

Pep Rosenfeld

Pep Rosenfeld is the co-founder of Boom Chicago and the author of Work Laugh Balance: How and Why Humor Can Make You and Your Team More Successful.