Raise your hand if you’ve ever been part of an amazing team that was cohesive, collaborative, productive, and drama-free. 🙌
Now raise your hand if you’ve ever been part of a team that was siloed, disjointed, draining, and had more drama than a Broadway show.
If you’ve been working for any length of time, you’ve likely experienced both at some juncture.
While teams underperform or become dysfunctional for countless reasons, the root often lies in something simple: we all think, communicate, process information, handle conflict, and find motivation in different ways.
You might be thinking, “Well, duh, Sarah!” And you’d be right. We know this in theory. But here’s the thing—how often do we really stop in the chaos of back-to-back meetings and looming deadlines to actually consider how another person might see the world differently? To ask ourselves how their preferences, needs, or approaches might be affecting how we interact with them?
If I had to guess, I’d say not often enough. In our race to “get it all done,” we rarely pause to reflect on who’s right in front of us. Instead, we operate under the unconscious (and very human) assumption that everyone works the same way we do—and then act surprised when they don’t.
Knowing what makes team members tick and how to work more seamlessly together is invaluable.
Here are some common-sense, often overlooked strategies to consider, whether you’re part of the team or leading it:
- Communicating: Yes, this seems so obvious it’s almost painful to mention. Yet, poor communication is the top culprit behind most team issues. Effective communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about listening, clarifying, and making sure everyone is on the same page. Are you checking in, asking questions, and making space for others to speak up? A team can’t function without clarity.
- Connecting: Underestimate the power of networks at your own risk! We live in a relationship economy, and the truth is, work doesn’t get done in a vacuum—it gets done with and through people. Even the most introverted among us need to nurture connections. Strengthening relationships within your team can dramatically improve cohesion. You don’t need to be best friends, but taking the time to understand and appreciate each other’s differences can go a long way in building trust and collaboration.
- Contributing: Teams work best when everyone contributes—and yes, I know that sounds like another “duh” moment. But disengagement is real. It happens when people don’t feel valued or believe their voice doesn’t matter. Are you making space for quieter voices? Acknowledging others’ contributions? Contribution isn’t just about the ways in which you’re participating, it’s also about creating space for others to have a voice and know their presence matters. If someone’s sitting on the sidelines, how can you bring them back into the game?
If you find yourself feeling that you need a more powerful way to build a high-performing team, the Prism Portrait can be a game changer.
We’ve all experienced the frustration of mismatched communication styles, missed cues, and assumptions that lead to conflict or disengagement. But what if you could take the guesswork out of it and get a blueprint for each team member’s unique way of thinking and working?
The Prism Portrait is a validated self-assessment that provides:
- Clear and comprehensive insights into individual traits and attributes including personality, personality under pressure, conflict management style, decision making style and more to create self awareness and cultivate emotional intelligence.
- Unearths team strengths and sources of conflict to build on Team Intelligence.
- Robust data which fosters discussion and observations that go beyond surface-level team-building exercises.
It’s not just about filling out another personality assessment—it’s about gaining actionable insights that you can use to create a more cohesive, aligned, and effective team.
Following a recent team session with a client, the C-level sponsor said:
“In the weeks following the group session, I’ve noticed significant changes in our team dynamics. People have developed greater self-awareness, are actively listening to one another in new ways, and the assessment’s concepts are naturally surfacing in conversations, giving us a shared language to work from. Beyond the team benefits, it was powerful for each team member to have the opportunity to reflect on and refine their personal leadership style, helping them step up and grow as leaders.”
Want to see how the Prism Portrait can transform your team? Click here to schedule a discovery call.
