This article discusses the importance of building resilient teams through better communication. It emphasizes understanding behavioral styles, having tough conversations early, and making resiliency a shared responsibility.
Resilient teams are more than just a desirable asset in the work environment – they’re a critical necessity. Resilience, as defined by the National Library of Medicine, is “the ability to apply positive mental skills to remain psychologically steady and focused when confronted with challenges or adversity.” This quality is incredibly valuable in the workplace. Additional research from the NLM has shown that team members with resilience are likely to have 10% to 20% lower rates of potential depression, absenteeism, and productivity loss. Improving communication is one of the most effective strategies for building resilience. Better communication helps teams form stronger bonds, manage stress more effectively, and encourages deeper engagement in the workplace.
How Can Understanding Behavioral Styles Improve Communication?
Understanding yourself and others through the same framework is the first step in improving communication and increasing resilience. Self-awareness reduces defensive responses and promotes collaborative problem-solving. Implement a trusted assessment tool to discover the behavioral differences within your team. By using real data to understand each other, you will have concrete points of reference that you can use to improve communication.
Why Should We Have Tough Conversations Early and Often?
Once you have a baseline understanding of each other, resilient teams need to work to keep that understanding by not avoiding conflict. This may feel counterintuitive to the conflict-averse, but it’s actually the best way to prevent issues in the future. When conflict is handled with consistent care, teams will know what to expect from each other and have successfully modeled resolution for the future.
“Resilient teams are essential in times of constant change. One of the most effective ways to build resiliency is to improve communication, which helps teams create stronger bonds, manage stress more effectively, and foster deeper engagement in the workplace.”
— Shari Pheasant, Founder and CEO at Horse Power Strategies
How Can We Make Resiliency a Shared Responsibility?
A lack of resilience often signals a poor environment, not weak individuals. When people have the right tools, they can embrace resiliency through behavioral flexing. This is a process in which you adapt your behavior to meet the behavioral styles of others. Adapting behavior isn’t a long-term solution, but rather a short-term compromise. By understanding and embracing each other’s behavioral styles, having tough discussions early, and taking shared ownership of communication, your team can create an environment that stands strong during tough times.
Resiliency is the ability to remain psychologically steady and focused when faced with challenges or adversity.
How can we improve communication within a team?
Understanding behavioral styles, having tough conversations early, and making resiliency a shared responsibility can improve communication within a team.
What is behavioral flexing?
Behavioral flexing is a process in which you adapt your behavior to meet the behavioral styles of others. It is a short-term compromise.
Danielle Byrne
About the Author
Danielle Byrne is a partner at BJD Performance Group, where she helps organizations unlock their full potential through leadership development, executive coaching, and strategic planning. With years of experience guiding leaders and teams, Danielle is known for her ability to translate theory into action, ensuring growth that’s both measurable and sustainable.
She is a certified expert in DISC assessments and other behavioral tools, enabling her to deliver people-first strategies that improve communication, strengthen culture, and drive performance. Danielle’s work reflects BJD’s mission to transform organizations by developing leaders, building strong teams, and aligning strategy with results.
