How Companies Can Best Utilize Their Team-Building Resources, Especially Under High Stress
Many teams have team-building resources. How you use them during times of high stress determines how effective they are.
Grace Tripathy
, Fri 13 December 2024
When organizations invest in tools like personality assessments to improve team dynamics, they expect measurable improvements in collaboration and communication. However, it’s common for teams to excel in leveraging these tools externally, such as tailoring customer interactions, while falling short internally. The disconnect lies not in the absence of tools but in the difficulty of applying them consistently under tight deadlines and high stress.
The challenges teams face when applying communication tools internally often stem from several factors:
- Stress and Time Pressure: High-stakes environments naturally create tension, and team members may revert to ingrained habits rather than intentionally using learned communication strategies.
- Lack of Reinforcement: While assessments provide valuable insights, without consistent practice and reinforcement, teams struggle to integrate these tools into daily interactions.
- Misaligned Priorities: Teams often prioritize external-facing excellence, such as client communication, over internal cohesion, believing that internal dynamics are secondary.
- Limited Accountability: Teams may lack a structured process for holding themselves accountable to the principles outlined in their assessments.
For example, a consulting company specializing in marketing, faces this exact issue. Despite regular use of personality and communication style assessments, such as DISC and Myers-Briggs, the team struggles with miscommunication during internal projects. Deadlines only increase the problem, causing team members to default to their natural tendencies and creating unnecessary conflict.
Take Emma, a results-driven leader, and Liam, an analytical thinker. When collaborating on a critical 48-hour project, Emma’s direct and urgent communication style overwhelmed Liam, who preferred deliberate planning. As a result, Liam became defensive, and their collaboration suffered, despite both having the tools to bridge their differences.
Building a Foundation for Better Internal Communication
To address these challenges, teams need a foundation of shared understanding and intentionality. This foundation should include actionable strategies that are regularly practiced and refined.
- Cultivating Everyday Intentionality
To make communication tools actionable, teams must normalize their use in daily interactions:
- Integrate Tools into Workflow: Encourage team members to actively reference their communication styles in meetings and collaborative work. For instance, Emma might say, “I know you prefer structured plans, Liam, so here’s a quick outline before we discuss timelines.” This small acknowledgment aligns both perspectives and using tools like AIM Insights helps facilitate the organization of these meetings including goal tracking and metrics.
- Create Visual Reminders: Post quick-reference summaries of team members’ communication styles in shared spaces to make these tools visible and accessible.
- Mentorship Best Practices: Leaders should consistently demonstrate how to apply these tools, setting an example for the team. For instance, a manager at a consulting company could start each meeting with a brief check-in: “What communication styles should we keep in mind as we tackle this project?”
2. Establishing Processes for Alignment
Intentionality is particularly critical when stress levels are high and time is short. Teams should adopt structured processes to align expectations and mitigate potential conflicts:
- Pre-Project Meetings: Before starting a project, hold a brief meeting to discuss goals, roles, and communication preferences. This ensures clarity and minimizes misunderstandings.
- Shared Language: Develop a common vocabulary for describing communication styles, such as “fast decision-maker” or “detail-oriented processor.” This shared language fosters empathy and streamlines problem-solving.
- Regular Check-Ins: Schedule short daily check-ins to address concerns and realign priorities. Even five minutes can prevent small issues from escalating.
In the case of the consulting company, a quick alignment session could have helped Emma and Liam understand each other’s priorities before the project began. Emma might express her urgency while Liam outlines the steps he needs to complete his analysis efficiently.
3. Maintaining Momentum Through Reflection and Growth
Consistency in applying communication tools requires regular reflection and opportunities for growth:
- Consistent Trial and Error: After each project, dedicate time to discuss how well communication tools were used. What worked? What didn’t? Use these insights to refine future approaches.
- Stress-Management Training: High stress often leads to reversion. Equip teams with stress-management techniques, such as mindfulness or brief breathing exercises, to stay focused and intentional.
- Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate instances where communication tools were used effectively. This reinforces positive behavior and motivates the team to continue their efforts.
At the consulting company, a post-project review helped Emma and Liam identify areas for improvement. Emma learned to soften her urgent tone by providing more context, while Liam practiced responding more flexibly under pressure. Over time, these adjustments strengthened their collaboration.
When teams commit to consistently applying communication tools, they transform a common pain point into a competitive advantage. This requires:
- Accountability: Assign champions within the team to encourage the ongoing application of tools.
- Adaptability: Tailor communication strategies to fit the team’s evolving needs and challenges.
- Visibility: Keep communication insights front and center in daily operations.
By prioritizing internal communication with the same care they give to client interactions, teams can navigate conflicting perspectives, meet tight deadlines, and foster stronger relationships. Emma and Liam’s journey illustrates how intentionality, alignment, and reflection can turn communication tools into actionable strategies, even in the most demanding environments.
When leaders create a culture of intentional communication, teams thrive under pressure, achieving better outcomes and building deeper cohesion. This not only enhances productivity but also sets the foundation for long-term success.
