In my goal to become a world-class coach this year, one of the biggest growth areas I’ve focused on is facilitating the transformation of teams from “low positivity” to “high positivity”—as described in the book Teams Unleashed by Phil Sandahl.
Building Relationship Infrastructure
This transformation is about the “relationship infrastructure” of a team—the culture or environment where work gets done. This environment can either be empowering and supportive, or it can become a toxic swamp that sabotages the team’s ability to work effectively together. In Teams Unleashed, this infrastructure is mapped through seven “Positivity Strengths”:
- Trust
- Respect
- Camaraderie
- Communication
- Constructive Interaction
- Diversity
- Optimism
Uncovering the True State of Positivity
What I often see is that a team can look great on the surface—lots of laughs and high fives. But when a thorny issue arises, the atmosphere changes dramatically. Suddenly, there’s a heavy feeling in the room: the conversation slows, individuals become defensive, tangents emerge, and everything feels much harder.
This instantly reveals a weakness in Constructive Interaction—the team hasn’t mastered how to use conflict as a source of opportunity and growth.
The Causes of Low Positivity
There are many possible causes for this lack of constructive interaction:
- An overpowering or conflict-avoidant business owner.
- An underperforming but beloved team member.
- A taboo topic that raises doubts and anxieties.
- An individual’s overprotective ego.
- Interpersonal conflict between team members.
Some of these challenges are systemic and require subtle, consistent work over many sessions. Yet as a coach, it is my role to call these issues out—however uncomfortable or “icky” it might be.
Pushing Beyond Comfort Zones
Sometimes addressing these issues makes people uncomfortable, and it can be challenging for me as well. The skill I’m learning is how to invite teams to reach beyond their window of tolerance—to challenge them not to remain small or maintain the status quo.
My Personal Growth as a Coach
This journey is not just for the teams I coach; it is my journey as well. Having faced my own demons around conflict and boundaries, I’m learning to operate more from my heart and less from my head. This shift allows me to help teams tap into their potential for growth, and to create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Transforming team dynamics from low to high positivity is not easy, but it is incredibly rewarding. By building trust, fostering respect, and encouraging open communication, I’ve seen firsthand how a team can evolve from simply being productive to becoming a truly cohesive, high-performing unit.
Where Are You on the Positivity Scale?
If you’re part of a team—or leading one—consider where you currently fall on the positivity and productivity matrix. Are there prickly issues holding your team back? Is there room to improve how conflicts are handled, or how team members interact during times of tension?
The work of fostering a high-positivity environment is ongoing, but the rewards are worth it. Together, we can transform teams into environments where positivity and productivity thrive hand in hand.
YOUR PRIVACY CHOICES