Respect and team performance

As a consultant and Project Manager, I usually work on client projects with people from very different backgrounds, ideas and values.
Having quiet a good background with technology and fair amount of experience in management, I usually become mediator and translator as I can respect peoples contribution from the technical and management perspective.
For me having basic respect and trying to make sure that people are well supported makes a project more successful.
I would like to know what people think about team cultures and how many teams are really functional or dis-functional.