The Values Insights Series - When Teams Click: The Hidden Power of Values in Team Dynamics

You can view parts one and three of our Values Insights Series here and here.

Understanding and leveraging team values 

Remember that 'eek' feeling we talked about when your personal values don't align with your workplace? Now imagine that playing out across an entire team. Talk about drama! 

Ever watched a team in action and thought, "whatever they've got, I want it for my team"? You know those teams - the ones that seem to read each other's minds, finish each other's projects, and somehow make complex work look effortless. 

Then there's the flip side - teams that look perfect on paper but in reality have all the coordination of a TikTok dance challenge gone wrong. 

The Team Values Equation 

Here's the thing about team dynamics - they're less about the fancy team-building exercises and more about what values play out when everyone goes back to their desks. In my time coaching teams, I've seen enough team dynamics drama to fill a Netflix series. And let me tell you, values misalignment creates more plot twists than your favourite binge-worthy show. 

Think about it - one team member's enthusiasm can light up a room just like one person's eye roll can spread faster than office gossip. I've seen it play out in so many ways: 

• The innovative team where half the members believe in "fail fast, fail often" while the others treat mistakes like personal betrayals (cue dramatic music) 
• The high performer whose "just get it done" attitude creates an avalanche of anxiety behind them (speed isn't everyone's superpower) 
• The eternal optimist whose positivity makes half the team feel inspired and the other half feel like they're stuck in a motivational TED talk they didn't sign up for 
• The detail-oriented perfectionist and the big-picture thinker trying to collaborate (it's giving "trying to merge parallel universes" vibes) 

When Values Clash: The Leadership Effect 

Let's talk about the elephant in the room - leadership behaviour. I've witnessed entire team cultures shift based on a leader's values alignment (or lack thereof). Let's be real - we've all experienced one, reported to one, and some of us have had to hand a team over to one: 

• The leader who champions work-life balance as a core value while sending midnight emails and praising those who respond instantly (nothing says "your personal time matters" quite like that 11pm "quick question") 
• The manager who lists innovation as their top value but creates a culture where trying something new is treated like a cardinal sin ("great idea, but let's stick to what we know works") 
• The team lead whose values statement emphasises trust and autonomy, but micromanages with the intensity of a detective in a crime series 
• The leader who preaches collaboration as a key value while fostering an environment where individual success means throwing teammates under the bus 

Here's something I've learnt coaching leaders - when you're constantly pushing for numbers, you might hit targets, but you'll miss the real gold: understanding what makes your team truly perform. Trust me on this one - I've seen leaders transform their teams by simply taking a step back and really seeing their people. 

Let's flip the script. Instead of starting your week focused on KPIs and targets, try this: 

Take 15 minutes in your next team meeting to understand what lights your people up. Ask them: 

• "When did you feel most energised last week?" 
• "What project made you lose track of time?" 
• "Where do you feel you made the biggest impact?" 

Watch what happens. You'll start seeing patterns emerge: 

• The quiet achiever who comes alive when talking about improving processes 
• The social connector whose energy lifts when bringing people together 
• The deep thinker who sparks up when solving complex problems 
• The action-taker who gets fired up about quick wins 

Understanding Your Team's Values DNA 

Here's the game-changer - understanding what makes your team tick isn't just about personality profiles or team-building days. It's about getting to the heart of what energises and drives each person. And yes, sometimes that means slowing down to speed up. 

When you understand these different values, magic happens. Rather than seeing differences as obstacles, you start seeing them as superpowers that can work together: 

• Susan values innovation while George values stability - pair them on projects where both careful change and solid foundations matter 
• Kerry prioritises relationships while Donald focuses on results - together they can create success that lasts 
• Alexandra needs autonomy while Kathy thrives on collaboration - design workflows that enable both independent and team time 
• Katherine values analytical thinking while Emma thrives on intuitive decision-making - together they create solutions that are both data-driven and people-focused 
• Ryan focuses on big picture strategy while Mon excels at detailed execution - combine their strengths to ensure vision meets practical reality 

The magic? When people work in alignment with their values, not only do they perform better - they bring others along with them. That energy becomes contagious, and suddenly your team isn't just hitting targets, they're smashing through them while actually enjoying the journey. 

Let's be real - your team's success is too important to leave to chance, and their potential is too valuable to waste on misalignment. Ready to turn those "if only" moments into "what's next" victories? 

Take the Values Insights Assessment through Skills Dx today. Because when you understand what drives your people, you don't just build a team - you create an unstoppable force.