Part 6/9:
When issues arise—whether miscommunication, perceived disrespect, or misaligned expectations—they are often framed in subjective terms that escalate conflicts rather than resolve them. Words like "disrespectful" or "disloyal" become weapons instead of signals for underlying issues. The root cause often traces back to failures in vocabulary—an inability to articulate or agree upon what certain qualities or behaviors mean.
Using TeamWords to Foster Shared Understanding
TeamWords offers a straightforward approach to creating a shared vocabulary:
- Start with a team meeting: Distribute decks of TeamWords cards—each featuring a variety of words that describe desirable team behaviors (e.g., approachable, creative, reliable).