The 4 Dimensions

Communicating

How does your team share information?
"The kinds of errors that cause plane crashes are invariably errors of communication." — Malcolm Gladwell
Contrary to the debates you see on LinkedIn, communication on a modern team isn't about the technologies that your team uses, or whether your team works remotely or in person. Communication is fundamentally about the norms your team has for how information flows from person to person.
While every team has its own idiosyncrasies, its communication style will fall into one of two archetypes.

Informal

teams thrive on spontaneous discussions and casual conversations, prioritizing flexibility and adaptability.

Characteristics of

Informal

teams

  • You tend to ping each other or chat live when needed instead of waiting for a meeting or sending an email or written doc.
  • Meeting preparation and follow-up work are lightweight. You don't always write down agendas, decisions, or action items.
  • Institutional knowledge and team expertise live in people's heads rather than in written documentation.

Where

Informal

teams excel

Environments where innovation, speed, and personal communication are prioritized, e.g.,

  • Creative contexts like advertising, design, and entertainment, where the free flow of ideas and less formal communication can spark more innovative outcomes.
  • The fast-paced world of startups, where agility is crucial and informal teams can quickly adapt to changes, make swift decisions and pivot as needed, without being bogged down by rigid structures.
  • The early stages of brainstorming and experimental research, where scientists and engineers can explore various hypotheses and creative solutions without being restricted by formal protocols.

Ordered

teams prefer well-defined communication channels, processes, and documentation.

Characteristics of

Ordered

teams

  • For important discussions, you prefer written communication and pre-existing meetings to ad hoc calls and Slack pings.
  • Meetings are structured and have agendas. Decisions and action items are written down.
  • Critical team knowledge is kept in documentation that is organized and kept up-to-date.

Where

Ordered

teams excel

Environments where precision, accuracy, and consistency are essential, e.g.,

  • Regulated industries like finance and healthcare, where strict compliance rules require careful documentation.
  • Large scale projects that involve many moving parts, like physical or software engineering projects.
  • Roles where complex data management defines success, like data engineering and analysis.
Get a FREE preview of your TeamDynamics

When we have team meetings…

Question 1 of 12

Want to learn more about the TeamDynamics framework?

Building a great team is about more than just who is on your team. It's also about how they work together.

How does your team communicate and collaborate to get work done? Is it all about detailed documentation and rigorously defined implementations? Or maybe your team prefers informal chats and lightweight plans?

TeamDynamics captures the fundamentals of how modern teams work, from generating insights to putting plans into action. Explore the four dimensions of TeamDynamics and start your journey towards a better, more fulfilling team experience.

How well do you know your team?

We've analyzed thousands of teams across industries, functions, and geographies. Here's a few things we've found.

Understanding how your team works is the key to getting work done (and having fun while doing it). You might be surprised what you learn.

Only 1/3 of managers know their teams.
Just 36% of managers correctly identify their team's type. If you don't know how your team works, how can you manage it?
9 in 10 people are out of alignment with their team.
91% of individuals are in tension with at least one of their team's core behaviors (two-thirds are in tension with 2 or more behaviors). Learn to thrive, even where you might naturally struggle!
3 out of 5 people want to work differently.
60% of individuals would prefer that their team execute towards its objectives differently. Maybe it's time to change how the team is working?
Read our 2024 State of the Team Report!
Learn how today's teams are communicating and collaborating to get work done in our inaugural report on the state of modern teamwork.

TeamDynamics is a tool for individuals and teams who believe that teamwork should be intentional and rewarding.

We spend just as much time today with our coworkers as we do with our loved ones. We have tools to manage our relationships with partners: love languages, compatibility tests, therapy, and more.

But when it comes to relationships with our professional teams, we're flying blind. It doesn't have to be that way.

TeamDynamics is a team building tool to help the modern team get more done and have more fun while doing it. Quantify your team's behaviors. Describe them with a shared language. Improve your team's performance with tailored recommendations.

Mike M.
Customer Success Manager

“As a newcomer to my company, TeamDynamics was like a cheat sheet for understanding the team’s ways of working. It fast-tracked my integration and helped me connect with everyone.”

David S.
Software Engineer

"When I switched teams, I felt like I lost my instincts for working with my colleagues: things that were easy to coordinate before seemed to take forever, and I couldn't get my points across. TeamDynamics helped me figure out what I needed to change to get my groove back."

Rachel K.
Business Operations

"Used to use MBTI in consulting. Joined a startup, needed something fresher. Found TeamDynamics. We use it for every new hire. It helps us understand our team. Keeps us grounded. Shows us how to improve."

Discover your team's personality.

Learn how your team works. Unlock your team's potential. Get your TeamDynamics today.

Get 10% off...Get 10% off...

Do you know your team's personality? 🤔

TeamDynamics describes how your team works together and how you fit in. We'll send you a sample so you can check it out for yourself!

Success! Check your email in a few minutes.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form. Please try again.

If that still doesn't work, please Contact Us directly.